Pedro

The Post-Gazette is reporting Pedro Alvarez is out of shape and suffering from tendinitis. Potentially this could lead to Alvarez reporting to low A ball rather than high A.

BTW Take:
This is a blow not only to the Pirates but Alvarez himself. Starting out in high A could lead to Alvarez making it to AAA Indianapolis by the end of 2009 if he performed as expected.
Now, possibly starting in low A could keep him from Indy with a best case season getting him to AA Altoona.
Between his holdout and his conditioning, Alvarez has likely lost as much as two years of service that could have got him to free agency sooner. Boras has really paid off for him. Hasn't he?
As for the Pirates, this might seal Alvarez playing a few of his peak years in Pittsburgh. If the tendinitis is cronic, it could force the Pirates to move Alvarez to first base.