Dodgers News: Stephen Fife, Nick Buss Among 10 Players Cut From Camp

The Los Angeles Dodgers have played almost a third of their scheduled Spring Training games and it’s been enough time for manager Don Mattingly and the organization to make some moves.

With the first regular season games just three weeks away, the Dodgers need to begin finalizing their roster and preparing for the season as the first round of cuts were made this morning. According to the official Dodgers’ Twitter account, 10 players were sent to minor league camp today:

#Dodgers today optioned Nick Buss, Jarett Martin, Yimi Garcia, Stephen Fife and Pedro Baez.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 4, 2014

#Dodgers also reassigned Chris Reed, Griff Erickson, Daniel Moskos, Sam Demel and Chris O'Brien to minor league camp.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 4, 2014

Stephen Fife may be the biggest name of them all, as some believed he had an outside chance of making the team as the fifth starter. With the strong performances by Josh Beckett and Paul Maholm, Fife was made expendable. The other name that has spent time with the Dodgers was outfielder Nick “Chili” Buss, who came up in September last season. He wasn’t expected to make the team out of the spring and will begin the year in the minor leagues.

Jarrett Martin, Yimi Garcia and Pedro Baez were also not expected to make the team. Garcia was unable to throw this spring due to an injury. Martin and Baez both had a couple appearances and could be seen at some point during the season. Of the others not on the 40-man roster, Reed was the biggest name, but struggled in his appearance against the Milwaukee Brewers.

It was speculated that the Dodgers were considering changing Reed from a starter to a reliever. Sam Demel was signed by the team in December and wasn’t considered a threat to make the team. Daniel Moskos is another player with major league experience that wasn’t expected to make the team. Griff Erickson and Chris O’Brien were former draft picks that have never played in the major leagues.

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