Just too late for Snakebytes, naturally. The team announced that they have optioned Konrad Schmidt to Triple-A Reno, reassigned Micah Owings, Brian Sweeney and Wily Mo Pena to minor league camp, and outrighted John Hester to Reno. In order for the last move, it appears the club requested outright waivers on Hester, which is the process when a team wants to take a player off the 40-man roster, but keep him in their system. These were secured, and Hester made it through them unclaimed.
Now, why would they have done this?
The main reason is, it frees up a 40-man roster spot for someone. Nick Piecoro reckons the most likely beneficiary is Russell Branyan, which would make sense, as it's coming close to D-Day for him. Arizona has up until the 25th to decide whether or not he's going to be on the Opening Day roster, as he does have an opt-out clause. Part of the answer for Branyan might depend on his playing-time: I'm sure his agent has been asking around to see if there the chance of a starting job elsewhere, rather than a bench-spot here, though no possibilities immediately come to mind.
The moves mean the team now have 35 players left to take part in Major League camp - 31 of those are on the 40-man roster. along with four non-roster players: Branyan and Mike Hampton are two who remain, but I'm not sure who the other two might be. It's hard to tell, as some players are still appearing in the Cactus League, who were officially re-assigned last week, e.g. Paul Goldschmidt and Chris Owings. From what I can see, it's reliever Rafael Rodriguez and either everyone's favorite mystery man, P.J. Pilittere, or Cody Ransom, though I don't give either of those any realistic shot of making the team.