OAKLAND – The Giants announced their Opening Day roster Saturday, opting to proceed with three catchers rather than five outfielders and including third baseman Pablo Sandoval as an active member.

In finalizing the club, the Giants purchased the contract of catcher Guillermo Quiroz and reassigned outfielder Cole Gillespie to minor-league camp. Gillespie will report to Triple-A Fresno.

Sandoval, nursing a sore right elbow, and catcher Hector Sanchez (shoulder) are both on the active roster.

Sandoval did not play in the Giants' final exhibition game Saturday against the A's a day after experiencing discomfort in the elbow. But manager Bruce Bochy said before the game that Sandoval "felt good" and that he was "optimistic" the slugger will be available Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sandoval took batting practice, fielded grounders and threw across the diamond before the game. Bochy said one option is using Sandoval off the bench for the first few games if necessary, adding that that decision could "go down to the wire."

Sanchez, meanwhile, caught six innings in an extended spring training game Saturday and was going to be re-evaluated before likely joining the Giants in Los Angeles. The decision to add Quiroz to the 25-man roster gives the Giants another option behind Buster Posey.

Quiroz, the 31-year-old who has played for five major-league teams, punctuated his case Saturday with a three-run homer in the seventh off A's right-hander Bartolo Colon.

The Giants will open with four outfielders – Angel Pagan, Hunter Pence and the left-field platoon of Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres. Both Blanco and Torres have played all three outfield positions for the Giants in the past.

The Giants had announced late Friday night the addition of Nick Noonan to the roster as a utility infielder.

Right-handed reliever Chad Gaudin, whose contract was purchased March 26, is the lone member of the 12-man pitching staff who was not on the World Series roster a year ago.

Last outing – Ryan Vogelsong's spring ended with a rough outing against the A's, which was OK with him. Vogelsong, who allowed four runs on six hits in five innings, said that after being ahead of hitters for much of the spring, he didn't mind a bad start to show him what he needs to adjust before facing the St. Louis Cardinals this week.

Yoenis Cespedes delivered the big blow against Vogelsong with a three-run homer in the third on a changeup. It was the sixth of the spring for Cespedes, who also took Tim Lincecum deep on Thursday.

"I don't think he got it really good," Vogelsong said. "But he's so strong he got enough of it to put it over the fence."

Et cetera – In an odd moment, Gaudin pinch hit for designated hitter Buster Posey in the fourth inning. Bochy later explained that as a long-relief man, Gaudin may have occasion to bat at some point this season. Gaudin struck out.

Call The Bee's Matt Kawahara, (916) 321-1015. Read his Bay Area Baseball blog at blogs.sacbee.com/bay-area-baseball/. Follow him on Twitter @matthewkawahara.

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