A's notes: Henderson Alvarez battling back, eyes debut

OAKLAND — Henderson Alvarez is holding out hope that his A’s debut doesn’t wait until 2017.

The right-hander threw 30 pitches off the mound Tuesday and came away encouraged after mixing in his fastball, slider and changeup. The next step would have Alvarez throwing two separate 20-pitch sessions, perhaps Saturday in Arizona, manager Bob Melvin said. The A’s begin their next road trip Friday.

By now, both Alvarez and the team had hoped he’d be entrenched in Oakland’s rotation. The thought entering spring training was that he might return by May from shoulder surgery that took place last July while he was still with the Miami Marlins, who declined to offer him arbitration in the offseason,…