Stephen Fife among 10 Dodgers roster cuts Tuesday

GLENDALE -- The Dodgers made their first roster cuts of spring training on Tuesday, sending 10 players to minor league camp. Stephen Fife, who made 10 starts for the Dodgers in 2013, is among the first roster casualties.

Fife and fellow pitchers Pedro Baez, Jarret Martin and Yimi Garcia, plus outfielder Nick Buss were all optioned to minor league camp. Non-roster pitchers Daniel Moskos, Sam Demel and Chris Reed and non-roster catchers Chris O'Brien and Griff Erickson, were reassigned to minor league camp. The difference in the terminology has to do with whether or not the players are on the 40-man roster. Those who are on the 40-man get optioned; those who aren't get reassigned.

"We had to get our numbers down a little bit. Some of our decisions are based on the length of this camp and getting down to a working number [of players], and prioritizing the number of innings and at-bats we have left," manager Don Mattingly said. "It seems early, but for us it's kind of getting there."

The Dodgers to date have played just six Cactus League games, but they only have 13 days remaining in Arizona, counting Tuesday. Minor league camp began in full on Monday.

Fife pitched in one Cactus League game for the Dodgers, allowing a run in two innings on Sunday against the Padres.

With the moves, the Dodgers now have 48 players remaining in big league camp, including Scott Elbert, who is on the 60-day disabled list. There are 12 non-roster players left in camp.