This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert’s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Yesterday was a big news day in D-backs camp, and a lot of things with the roster are becoming clearer as we are less than a week before Opening Day against the Rockies.

Let’s take a look at some of what happened and what it means:

Eduardo Rodriguez is going to start the year on the IL
This was the biggest news of the day, and it wasn’t what the D-backs or Rodriguez were hoping for -- but it also wasn’t the worst case either.

Yes, Rodriguez has a lat strain and will miss some time, but he also says that he has felt better every day since Tuesday night when he was forced to leave a night game against the Cubs with discomfort in the lat.

We don’t know how long Rodriguez will be out for, and a lot of that timeline depends on how long he has to be shut down from throwing.

Elvis Andrus was released
There were a series of roster moves made by the D-backs on Friday as well, including the release of Andrus, who was signed just a few weeks ago to compete for the backup shortstop spot.

Once the D-backs determined that Andrus was not going to make the team, they let him know and gave him his release. They did not want to string him along until the end of camp, and they hope that by letting him know now, he’ll have a better opportunity of connecting with another team.

D-backs GM Mike Hazen said he would be open to Andrus going to Triple-A Reno if he chooses to in the future, but he added that with the tremendous respect the organization has for Andrus’ career, he would want to make sure Andrus understood what the playing time situation in Reno would be.

Pavin Smith, Andrew Saalfrank were optioned to Reno
Smith was caught in a numbers game after the D-backs added both Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk in the offseason.

“I thought he swung the bat pretty well,” Hazen said of Smith. “He played pretty well at first base. The unfortunate part of how we sort of constructed our offseason is it sort of sealed off some possible opportunities for him. We still really believe he’s going to be a good offensive player in this league. He obviously gives us versatility at corner outfield and at first base.”

Saalfrank made his way to the big leagues last year and was a key part of the D-backs’ bullpen down the stretch. Command, though, became an issue for him in the postseason, and the organization wants him to get back to throwing strikes.

Bryce Jarvis could nab a spot
Jarvis, the D-backs’ No. 29 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has pitched better as camp has gone on. With Rodriguez opening the season on the IL, the club is now more heavily considering carrying a long man early in the season.

If Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson end up claiming the final two spots in the rotation with Rodriguez out, Jarvis would not necessarily head to Reno. Instead, he could be the guy the D-backs carry early in the season to throw multiple innings out of the bullpen.

“I’m guessing we’re going to need some length,” Hazen said. “Length is always a concern of mine early in the season.”

Hazen didn’t specifically mention Jarvis, but Jarvis, Henry and Nelson are the only stretched-out starting pitchers left in camp that could fit that role.

Grichuk’s status is close to a resolution
The D-backs signed Grichuk to a one-year contract just after pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training, and they seemed optimistic at the time that he would recover quickly enough from the surgery he had on his right ankle to be on the Opening Day roster.

Grichuk is making progress -- he ran the bases for the first time Friday -- but time is getting short and there is a sense in camp that rather than rush him, it might be best for him to open the year on the injured list.

“That’s not been finalized, but we’re running to the end here,” Hazen said when asked about Grichuk opening on the IL. “We’re running to the end of it. Look, we knew when we signed him that we were going to be running up against it time wise. Based on how he looks right now, everything is going pretty well. I don’t think it’s going to be too long if in fact [the IL] is the direction we have to go.”