D-backs cut 2, enter final phase of roster moves

March 25th, 2017

TEMPE, Ariz. -- With another pair of roster moves Saturday morning, the D-backs are getting closer to having their pitching staff set for Opening Day.
Right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Reno while fellow righty was released.
With eight days to go before their season opener against the Giants, the D-backs are down to just a few moves left to make.
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"We're drilling down to a final number," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "We still have a lot of conversations to have internally about which direction we want to go in and we're going to get some more looks at some guys and finalize a decision here in the coming days. We're not going to wait until the last day."

The rotation is set even if the specific order is not with Zack Greinke, , Robbie Ray, and .
In the bullpen , and are locks.
Veteran non-roster right-handers and Tom Wilhelmsen also appear to have locked up spots based on their performances.
That would leave two spots open and the candidates shrink when you eliminate and , as neither will be ready for Opening Day.
It appears the four still in the mix for the final two spots are , , T.J. McFarland and .

Hoover and Wilhelmsen are not on the 40-man roster. The club has one spot open currently and could free up another by putting outfielder on the 60-day disabled list.
It's a little trickier to make room for McFarland or De La Rosa, but the club could deal one of the relievers who didn't make the club or put one of the current 40-man guys on waivers hoping that he would get through and be eligible to be sent to the Minors.
It's also possible the team could make a deal for a veteran reliever, or claim one off waivers itself. Either way, Lovullo's self-imposed deadline of making a decision before the exhibition game against the Indians on Thursday at Chase Field is drawing near.