PHILLIES: Philadelphia pitcher Adam Eaton has a small herniated disk and slight arthritis in his balky back.
The 30-year-old right-hander, who played at Snohomish high School, had an MRI and CT scan on Saturday, and the results came back Sunday.
"The most important thing to know about that is it's not pressing against the nerve root, which is really what your concern is," Phillies trainer Scott Sheridan said Sunday. "All of his symptoms are centrally located in his back. He has long-tossed the last two days and he's going to try to throw a bullpen tomorrow."
Eaton complained of back pain after his most recent start on Thursday, when he gave up four runs and five hits in two innings of a 6-4 loss to Tampa Bay. He has allowed seven runs and 10 hits in two starts this spring for a 15.75 ERA.
Eaton, signed as a free agent by the Phillies before last season, is confident he will be ready for opening day.
"I don't see why not. We're just kind of taking precautions now to not (aggravate) it," said Eaton, who was 10-10 with a 6.29 ERA in 2007. "I've been doing stuff the last couple of weeks to be ready. I don't have any thoughts on why I shouldn't be ready."
A'S: Oakland manager Bob Geren still hasn't decided if he will take third baseman Eric Chavez to Japan for the Athletics' season-opening, two-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
Chavez hasn't played in a game this spring and was only recently cleared to resume scaled-down workouts less than two weeks after receiving an injection to help ease inflammation in his lower back.
"I haven't ruled anybody out until they're out," Geren said Sunday. "We're just going to go day to day to see how he feels. The good news is he's feeling better each day."
It appears unlikely that Chavez would be ready to play against the Red Sox on March 25-26. He took batting practice for the third straight day and played catch on the side but has yet to run or do any fielding activities.
Oakland will embark on a 12-hour flight to Tokyo on March 19 which could also aggravate his back.
"It's possible he could go on the trip and not play," A's head athletic trainer Steve Sayles said. "I don't know how likely that is but if we haven't cleared him to play then it's (the organization's) decision whether or not he goes. I think they feel the same way. It would be more advantageous if he stayed here and got work done."
DIAMONDBACKS: Randy Johnson will make his first spring training start today.
The Arizona left-hander is expected to pitch two innings against the Colorado Rockies at Hi Corbett Field, another sign of progress as he returns from back surgery.
"Everything's gone on schedule," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said Sunday. "This is right around the first date that we thought that he would potentially take the mound in a game."
The 44-year-old Johnson went 4-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 10 starts for Arizona last season, the last on June 28, before undergoing his second back operation in less than a year.
TIGERS: Gary Sheffield missed his third straight spring training game with leg cramps but is expected to return to the lineup in a couple of days. Detroit's 39-year-old designated hitter is expected to play Tuesday when the Tigers host the Cincinnati Reds in a split-squad game.
