Diamondbacks Fill 40-Man Roster

Shortly after the postseason ended, the Arizona Diamondbacks made changes to their 40-man roster, designating players and moving them around, leaving the team with 35 on the roster. The addition of Aaron Heilman brought the total to 36, still four short of the maximum.

The Diamondbacks today filled out the remainder of their roster, adding players and reinstating others from the 60-day disabled list.

Outfielder Conor Jackson and pitchers Chad Qualls and Brandon Webb were activated from the 60-day disabled list. Additionally, Arizona added outfielder Cole Gillespie and pitchers Roque Mercedes, Daniel Stange, and Jordan Norberto to the roster.

Gillespie has been playing in the Arizona Fall League and has opened eyes since coming over with Mercedes from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Felipe Lopez trade on July 19. Gillespie played well this season, hitting .273 in the minor leagues.

During the Arizona Fall League Gillespie hit .333 in 20 games with seven doubles and a home run. He also had two stolen bases. For the most part he played left field and exhibited good range and a decent arm. Given his performance, look to see him challenge for a backup outfielder job with Arizona next spring.

Mercedes was assigned to the Diamondbacks' Double-A affiliate Mobile after the Brewers trade, where he appeared in 15 games, compiling a 3.32 ERA, striking out 25, and walking 10. Mercedes looks to be headed back to Mobile to begin the 2010 campaign, but a good spring may push him onto the Reno roster.

Daniel Stange was a seventh round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2006 amateur draft. He played the entire 2009 season for the Double-A Mobile Bay Bears, appearing in 39 games and pitching 51.2 innings. Stange had a 4.88 ERA, striking out 44 and walking only 15. Stange led the Bay Bears with 10 saves.

Jordan Norberto is a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic who spent time with Mobile as well as Visalia in the California League. He struggled in 19 games with Mobile and was sent down to work on his control. In 29 games in Visalia he dominated, pitching 44.2 innings with a 1.61 ERA. He struck out 59 while waking 22.

With the roster now full, any additions the Diamondbacks make through free agency or trade will need to come with an accompanying roster move in order to make room. This makes you wonder what general manager Josh Byrnes might be planning given his statements that at least one of the team’s needs will be filled through free agency.

The winter has only just begun, yet the Diamondbacks already have made moves that leave the fans and baseball insiders scratching their heads. Hopefully someone has a plan; otherwise this is going to be a very long offseason.