Major League Baseball

D-backs option Tomas to Triple-A, release Ross

Published Apr. 4, 2015 10:56 p.m. ET

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PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks' spring experiment with Yasmany Tomas at third base ended Saturday when he was sent to the minor leagues.

The D-backs finalized their opening day roster by optioning the slugging Tomas to Triple-A Reno and releasing outfielder Cody Ross. The moves mean non-roster catchers Gerald Laird and Jordan Pacheco make the team.

The experiment of Tomas at third isn't dead but the D-backs no longer see it as a long-term option. Tomas will play both third and the outfield in Reno, but general manager Dave Stewart said the Cuban import's future is in the outfield.

"If we look at the long term, probably his best fit is going to be in the outfield," Stewart said Saturday night.

The D-backs owe Ross $9.5 million, $8.5 million in salary for this season and a $1 million buyout on a $9.5 million option for 2016. They had minimal trade conversations regarding Ross, who is attempting to rebuild his career after a devastating hip injury in 2013.

The D-backs gave Tomas extensive work at third this spring after they signed him to a six-year, $68.5 million contract over the winter, but it became apparent that returnee Jake Lamb had claimed the he job. At that point, finding playing time for Tomas became the over-riding issue.

"(Tomas) didn't do a bad job. We actually thought he was an adequate third baseman," Stewart said. "But when you look at the makeup of our team and how things are going to progress now that Lamb has become the every-day third baseman, it's going to be tough for him to get playing time at third.

"We had to look at other options and see how we could get him at-bats, where we could keep him productive and we don't lose a year. We felt it would be better to get him to a place when he can get regular playing time and get at-bats. Anything can happen. He definitely has shown that he can hit at the major league level. It's just having that opportunity to play on a regular basis so he gets the necessary at-bats."

The D-backs considered opening the season with Tomas on the 25-man roster as a platoon player at third base against left-handed pitchers and taking an occasional turn in the outfield. But the outfield, even now without Ross, is stacked.

Tomas, 24, hit .257 with three doubles, two homers and 12 RBI in 70 at-bats, tied with A.J. Pollock for the team lead in at-bats this spring.

Lamb, the Southern League MVP in 2014, hit .364 with six doubles, two homers and six RBI this spring. He is 24, five weeks older than Tomas. The D-backs have further depth at third base with Brandon Drury, considered their best position-player prospect. Drury, 22, has 93 doubles in his last two seasons and had a big spring, hitting .435 with three homers in 23 at-bats before being sent out.

Stewart called the day his toughest as a general manager -- he was hired in September -- but said Tomas handled the news well. Cuban Yasiel Puig was 24 when the Dodgers signed him to a big contract and sent him to the minors the following spring.

"He was pretty calm about it," Stewart said of Tomas. "What's really great about this young man is how he takes things, how he takes the information. All that we can do at this point is see what he does with the information. Of course he was disappointed. He was here to play in the big leagues. But he clearly understood. As much as you hear it, it is a numbers game, and right now, the numbers were against him."

With Ross gone, the D-backs can spread their 2,100 or so plate appearances that figure to go to the outfield among four players -- Mark Trumbo, A.J. Pollock, David Peralta and Ender Inciarte. Peralta will start in left against right-handers, Hale has said. Ross was in position to start against lefties, but Inciarte also hits them well, albeit with not the same power.

The D-backs earlier Saturday named left-hander Andrew Chafin to the roster as the final arm in the bullpen. Pitchers Patrick Corbin, David Hernandez and Matt Stites, and catcher Oscar Hernandez were placed on 15-day disabled list, while picther Bronson Arroyo was put on the 60-day DL.

Follow Jack Magruder on Twitter

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