Wondering about the roster impact of Trumbo injury

SARASOTA, Fla. - The news that Mark Trumbo is headed to the disabled list with a Grade 2 strain of his right quadriceps muscle paints a different picture of the projected opening day roster.

Pedro Álvarez, signed last month as a "what-if" insurance policy, appears to have a better shot at breaking camp with the team, though manager Buck Showalter didn't run with the idea yesterday in Jupiter. It would have required a prolonged absence from Trumbo or first baseman Chris Davis, who's still in recovery mode from tightness in his right elbow/forearm.

Davis might return this weekend, though no updates are available. Trumbo will miss at least three to four weeks, according to Showalter, who briefed the media in Jupiter.

An MRI revealed the strain, which worsened after Trumbo finally got back in the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees. He served as designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a walk to lower his spring average to .130 with three hits in 23 at-bats.

Álvarez and Danny Valencia could platoon at designated hitter in Trumbo's absence. Valencia already had a legitimate chance to serve in a utility role despite his lack of exposure to shortstop.

Anthony Santander figured to make the club no matter the injury situation, but more at-bats could come his way. Colby Rasmus already was expected to be the left-handed side of a platoon in right field.

Former Oriole Mark Reynolds remains unsigned after hitting 30 home runs and driving in 97 runs last year with the Rockies. It may seem redundant to consider him on a team that already has Valencia and could get back Trumbo next month depending on the speed of his recovery, but I wouldn't automatically rule it out.

I'll just throw his name against the wall. He isn't the first and he won't be the last.

You won't see the same arm action from me regarding José Bautista, who also remains on the free agent market. Still a villain.

Álvarez, meanwhile, was signed for this exact reason - in case one of the sluggers came down with an injury. He's no longer experimenting with the outfield and he hasn't impressed at first base, but he's got power from the left side and the designated hitter slot just opened up for someone with his profile.

Why else is he in camp?

I've got Austin Hays behind Craig Gentry in the battle for spare right-handed hitting outfielder and platoon with Rasmus, but as long as we're playing with the roster, how about Hays in left field, Trey Mancini at first base and a healthy Davis as the designated hitter? Or Mancini getting more at-bats as the designated hitter that still keeps Hays in the majors?

Now I'm running with scissors, which also is an injury risk.

Trumbo didn't make the trip to Jupiter and Port St. Lucie and he wasn't in the clubhouse yesterday morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex due to the scheduled MRI. Meanwhile, Davis showed off his usual sense of humor before disappearing down a hallway that's off limits to the media.

The speculation over Davis' chances of joining Trumbo on the DL will intensify if he isn't in the lineup this weekend. He's already received a cortisone injection in his elbow on Saturday because there was a "plateau" in his rehab, in his words. He hasn't played since March 2 and is 2-for-13 with a home run and seven strikeouts.

Trumbo and Davis are a combined 5-for-36 and both are injured. This isn't how the Orioles envisioned the spring unfolding for two players who are critical to their chances of escaping last place and making a serious run at a playoff berth.

Can't have a bounceback season on the training table.