PHOENIX -- Three days into the monotony that is pitchers and catchers being put through their paces, A's third baseman Eric Chavez shook things up a bit after reporting for Spring Training three days before the first full-squad workout.

Coming off his second right shoulder surgery in two years, Chavez on Monday morning told reporters that he doesn't plan on playing in the first week of Oakland's Cactus League schedule, which opens Feb. 25.

That's not the bad news it might appear to be on the surface, though. To the contrary, Chavez said he's feeling just fine, and he was excited about taking the next step in his recovery later in the day -- make throws across the diamond while taking ground balls.

But with Spring Training a week longer than usual this year, a concession to next month's World Baseball Classic, Chavez sees no reason to prove that he's healthy by strapping it on for a few innings of fairly meaningless action some six weeks in advance of Opening Day.

Having been hampered by a variety of injuries for the better part of the past three seasons, Chavez has learned quite a bit about how best to prepare for the rigors of a six-month season. One lesson came just last spring, courtesy of his futile attempt to open the regular season on the active roster despite major back surgery the previous October.

His most recent shoulder surgery was performed last Aug. 13, and he's been hitting, playing catch and fielding grounders without making throws -- all pain-free -- for a few weeks now.

"I think last year [I] was unrealistic," Chavez said. "Last year, all I did in the offseason was rehab, right up to the start of Spring Training. This year I had time to recover [from the shoulder surgery], and I also had time to work out and prepare."

Thus, he's confident that he'll reach his goal of playing in 140 games this season. The last time he played that much, appearing in 160 games in 2005, was the last season of a five-year stretch over which he averaged more than 30 home runs and 100 RBIs.

"If I accomplish that goal," he said, "my numbers will be there."

Chavez said his back is in good shape but noted that it likely will require preventative maintenance throughout his career. He used the plight of former teammate Mark Kotsay, who had the same kind of back surgery, as an example.

Kotsay in January re-signed with the Red Sox as a free agent and passed the physical required to make the contract official, only to aggravate his back on the flight home after the physical. He underwent another surgery and will miss the early part of Boston's season.

"It's something that's always going to be with you," said Chavez, who was one of many position players who showed up Monday.

Among them were shortstop Bobby Crosby, second baseman Mark Ellis, first baseman Daric Barton and outfielders Ryan Sweeney, Jack Cust and Travis Buck, as well Oakland's top pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, second baseman Jemile Weeks.

Ellis, too, is working his way back from shoulder surgery, and he isn't as far along in his throwing program as is Chavez. He doesn't expect to play until late in the Cactus League season but plans to be ready for Opening Day.

Barton is in recovery mode to an extent, too. His rehab from offseason hip surgery was interrupted by a tonsillectomy, and he lost about 10 pounds as a result.

"It was a rough winter, but I'm fine," Barton said, "I didn't want to lose the weight, but what can you do? I'm sure I'll put it back on pretty quick."

Weeks suffered a hip injury of his own shortly after signing with the A's last summer, ending his first professional season after two weeks. He said he doesn't plan to push himself too hard too early, but he's not expecting to be medically restricted in any way.

The only pitcher in camp restricted at this point is hard-throwing prospect Henry Rodriguez, who is recovering from hernia surgery. Aside from Edgar Gonzalez, who along with catcher Joel Galarraga is still trying to sort out visa issues in Mexico, Rodriguez is the only pitcher who hasn't yet thrown in the bullpen.