--1B Daric Barton was sidelined for a week because of a quadriceps strain. Barton, who is coming back from October hip surgery, had only five at-bats in the first two weeks of spring training, and it is becoming increasingly unlikely that he will make the Opening Day roster, particularly with the addition of Nomar Garciaparra.

--RHP Joey Devine has missed a week because of elbow discomfort, but he is expected to be throwing off the mound by Monday or Tuesday, which could get him back into game action soon since he only needs to be ready to throw an inning. Devine is expected to be a co-closer with Brad Ziegler, at least initially.

--SS Bobby Crosby has played three games at third base and one inning at first base since the A's signed SS Orlando Cabrera. With Eric Chavez sidelined because of shoulder pain, Crosby could wind up with more time at third than expected. Crosby said he'd never played first base in his life and hadn't played third since he was 11.

BY THE NUMBERS: 28.6 -- The average age of the Oakland's projected Opening Day roster. Last year's roster averaged 26.2 years old on the final day of the season, but the six offseason acquisitions expected to make the 2009 roster have an average age of 34.3 years old, and everyone else is a year older. Should Vin Mazzaro (22) or Trevor Cahill (21) make the club, the number will dip.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Putting everything together, hitting and throwing, I knew I was going to be pretty sore, but it got to the point with my swing I could feel the back of my shoulder was about 40-50 percent. I knew if it wasn't getting better and I didn't say something, we'd have a real problem." -- Third baseman Eric Chavez to the San Francisco Chronicle on his recent setback with his surgically repaired right shoulder.