The Oakland Athletics continue to finalize their roster as they prepare for their flight to Tokyo later this week. The A's will play an exhibition double-header this Sunday against the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers, followed by their first two games of the regular season against the Seattle Mariners on March 28 and 29. The upcoming dates mean the A's have to have a 25-man roster in order by next week.
On the same day the A's decided to name Yoenis Cespedes their center fielder for the Tokyo trip, the team optioned Jarrod Parker to AAA-Sacramento and reassigned Brad Peacock to their minor league camp. Peacock had struggled in three appearances, giving up ten earned runs in seven innings. Parker had pitched fairly well, giving up four runs in eleven innings, but he wrapped up his big league camp walking seven Diamondbacks hitters.
Both pitchers are expected to return to the big leagues at some point, and both could very well re-join the active roster in April. Bob Melvin has indicated both pitchers remain in the hunt for the team's fifth starting pitcher spot. The job is not needed until April 17 due to days off, so one or the other could be up in Oakland by then.