Oakland Athletics Set 25-Man Roster; Stephen Vogt, Michael Taylor Tough Cuts

Mar 22, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt (21) hits a home run in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Athletics set their final 25-man roster for Opening Day on Saturday with a pair of difficult cuts of players who put together solid efforts in spring training.

As expected, outfielder Michael Taylor was designated for assignment. Out of options, Taylor was beaten out by left-handed hitting Sam Fuld for the last reserve spot in the outfield (h/t MLB.com).

Vogt, meanwhile, was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento after the A’s opted to keep just two catchers—Derek Norris and John Jaso—while keeping first baseman Daric Barton on the roster.

Meanwhile, catcher Chris Gimenez, who was designated for assignment on Friday, was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers.

The A’s did add infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima back to the 40-man roster, but he was optioned to Sacramento, as were infielder Jake Elmore and left-hander Joe Savery.

Oakland purchased Fuld’s contract from Sacramento in order to put him on the 40-man roster.

Five players will open the season on the disabled list. Right-hander Ryan Cook (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday, retroactive to March 21, and on Saturday, he was joined by right-handers A.J. Griffin (right flexor muscle strain, retroactive to March 21) and Fernando Rodriguez (recovering from Tommy John surgery, retroactive to March 21) and outfielder Craig Gentry (lower back strain, retroactive to March 21).

Vogt, 29, hit .364/.429/.659 in 20 games this spring, with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and 12 RBI. He provided some key at-bats in the second half last season after Jaso’s season was ended by a concussion in July and had a walk-off single to win Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Tigers last October.

Vogt was acquired from Tampa Bay last April after being drafted by the then-Devil Rays in the 12th round out of Azusa Pacific in 2007.

The A’s roster for Opening Day is (* indicated left-handed pitcher or hitter, % indicates switch-hitter):

Starting pitchers: Jesse Chavez, Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir*, Tommy Milone*, Dan Straily.

Relievers: Fernando Abad*, Sean Doolittle*, Luke Gregerson, Jim Johnson, Dan Otero, Drew Pomeranz*, Evan Scribner.

Catchers: John Jaso*, Derek Norris.

Infielders: Daric Barton*, Alberto Callaspo%, Josh Donaldson, Jed Lowrie%, Brandon Moss*, Nick Punto%, Eric Sogard*.

Outfielders: Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp%, Sam Fuld*, Josh Reddick*

Disabled list (15-day): RHP Ryan Cook, RHP A.J. Griffin, RHP Fernando Rodriguez, OF Craig Gentry.

Disabled list (60-day): LHP Eric O’Flaherty, RHP Jarrod Parker.