D-backs round out 40-man roster
Arizona also activates Jackson, Webb, Qualls from DL
PHOENIX -- The D-backs did some shuffling of their 40-man roster Friday, adding four players to it while also activating a trio of players.
Outfielder Cole Gillespie, right-handers Roque Mercedes and Daniel Stange along with lefty Jordan Norberto were added to the roster, while outfielder Conor Jackson and pitchers Brandon Webb and Chad Qualls were activated from the 60-day disabled list.
Players on the 60-day disabled list do not count against the 40-man roster.
With the additions, the D-backs 40-man roster is now full.
Gillespie and Mercedes both came over in the July 19 trade that sent Felipe Lopez to the Brewers. Gillespie has been impressive during the Arizona Fall League following as regular season in which he combined to hit .273 between Class A Brevard County, Triple-A Nashville and Triple-A Reno.
After being acquired by the D-backs, Gillespie hit .304 with five homers and 27 RBIs to go along with a .932 OPS (on-base plus slugging) for Reno. That performance along with a .333 mark in the Fall League has put the 25-year-old in position to battle for a backup outfield spot next spring.
Mercedes was 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in 15 games for Double-A Mobile following the trade. The 23-year-old has a low-90s fastball and what the D-backs feel is an above-average slider.
"We like his potential as a reliever down the road," D-backs GM Josh Byrnes said at the time of the deal.
Stange, who missed part of the 2007 and 2008 seasons following Tommy John elbow surgery, was 0-4 with 10 saves and a 4.88 ERA in 39 games for Mobile. The 23-year-old has 41 saves and a 3.93 ERA in 131 relief appearances since being selected in the seventh round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.
Norberto was 4-3 with a 3.82 ERA and four saves in 48 games for Class A Visalia and Mobile this year. The 22-year-old began his career as a starter, but moved to the bullpen in 2008. In six years with the D-backs he has a 4.20 ERA.
Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.



