Updates on Pearce, the lineup and trade rumors

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Steve Pearce's MRI on his left oblique revealed a Grade 1 strain, which is considered good news for the Orioles.

Manager Buck Showalter doesn't know whether Pearce will be ready in 15 days, saying it's "iffy." Pearce is eligible to return from the disabled list on Aug. 3.

"It showed some inflammation in there. Not severe as it could have been, but he's obviously got something in there," Showalter said.

"I know the normal time those things take. What's tough is you can't go test it, but it's definitely a good decision to put him on."

Pearce most likely will stay with the Orioles instead of reporting to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota.

"I'll talk to Steve a little bit when we get back on Monday," Showalter said. "I think we'll probably keep him, but don't hold me to it. When he gets close to going out, there might be a different scenario there."

Showalter juggled his lineup by lowering Manny Machado to third and batting Jimmy Paredes leadoff.

"Just a little different look, move a couple things around, see if we can get a little more production," Showalter said.

As for Paredes batting first, Showalter said, "We don't really have that the way that people look at it. If not him, then who? I look at everybody. Chris Davis."

Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base and batting second, with Jonathan Schoop on the bench. Schoop will return to the lineup on Saturday, and he's guaranteed to be in it Sunday against Rays left-hander Matt Moore.

"I really didn't want to play Jon on the turf three straight days if I could help it," Showalter said.

"We'll take it day by day. I'd love to run the same lineup out there every day - the same left fielder, same right fielder, same leadoff guy, but it's been hard to do."

Machado never has batted third in the majors, but he's tied for the team lead in home runs with 21 and ranks second in RBIs with 51.

"He could be leading off tomorrow," Showalter said. "We're looking for something to kind of jump start us a little bit. If (Chris) Archer is on top of his game tonight, it's going to be a challenge. We'll see. I don't know. Manny's done a nice job leading off and probably will again. It's nice to know he's capable of doing that."

This is the point where Showalter mocked all the trade rumors.

"We've got these four or five big trades that can happen any second now that's going to change all that," he said, rolling his eyes.

The hot rumor today was Chris Davis going to the Pirates for two minor league pitchers. I also heard from an industry source that the Orioles were talking to the Braves regarding catcher Matt Wieters, another pending free agent and Scott Boras client. But three people in the organization indicated to me that the Orioles remain buyers.

Director of public relations Kristen Hudak keeps Showalter posted on the latest rumors and speculation.

"I don't read anything or listen," Showalter said. "Obviously, I have to go get coffee and someone's talking on MLB Network, but unless she tells me about it, I don't know. She told me about (Kevin) Gausman because he was pitching that night, and Gaus started laughing about it. And something about Davis and Pittsburgh and something."

Told that there's been speculation that the Orioles also could deal Wei-Yin Chen, the third pending free agent repped by Boras, Showalter replied, "That's news to me."

"Dan (Duquette) hasn't even brought that up and he brings up anything and everything that might be out there," Showalter added. "He hasn't even mentioned that. There's so much stuff."

I do know that the Mariners are searching for another catcher and have contacted the Orioles about Triple-A Norfolk's Steve Clevenger, who was named to the International League All-Star team. However, the Orioles are hesitant to part with him unless they can package him in a bigger deal.