BRADENTON, Fla. - The Pirates this morning completed their opening-day roster with the expected cut of Sean Burnett -- reassigned to minor-league camp -- and a series of other moves.

The team:

• Told second baseman Freddy Sanchez, unable to throw at 100 percent all spring because of inflammation in his right shoulder, he will be on the roster for the opener.

• Filled out the bullpen, with the cut of Burnett, by adding Franquelis Osoria, Phil Dumatrait and Rule 5 draft pick Evan Meek.

• Placed outfielder Chris Duffy, still rehabilitating from left shoulder surgery, on the 15-day disabled list. He will participate in extended spring training.

• Unconditionally released Jaret Wright and Casey Fossum, two relievers who had been cut from camp earlier in the week.

• Scratched Paul Maholm from his scheduled start this afternoon in Fort Myers, Fla., because of a stiff lower back and replaced him with Dumatrait.

To the latter issue first: General manager Neal Huntington said Maholm could have made the start if it were a regular-season game, but the team, mindful that Maholm had back trouble late last season, chose to be "cautious."

That caution will extend into the season: Zach Duke and Maholm will flip spots in the rotation for the opening week. Duke now will pitch the third game in Atlanta, Maholm the second game in Miami.

Dumatrait will take Maholm's place today in Fort Myers.

Burnett, 26, will report to Indianapolis. He does not have to clear waivers.

He had been one of the best pitchers in camp, with a 0.90 ERA, seven consecutive hitless appearances and a total of one run, three hits, two walks and eight strikeouts in 10 innings.

"We're very excited about what Sean's done this spring. Candidly, nobody has outpitched him," Huntington said. "But it's not just about 12 spring training games. We're excited about Sean's progress. He's healthy. The ball is coming out of his hand great. But there are some durability, some resiliency questions that we have to answer."

Burnett never pitched out of the bullpen professionally until this spring, when he approached management with the idea to improve his chances of making the team. The Pirates' plan, Huntington said, is to use Burnett in back-to-back games and the like to see how he responds.

"Can he go three innings and 50 pitches and come back two days later? What happens if he warms up in the sixth and doesn't pitch until the eighth?" Huntington said. "We have a lot of questions to answer."

Huntington phoned Burnett last night to inform him of the cut. He had preferred to do it in person, but Burnett was across the state in Wellington, Fla., where his fiancee, Jessica, had the couple's first child, Sebastian Drew, yesterday.

Huntington described Burnett as "angry, frustrated and disappointed," but also described him as "very professional about it."

Sanchez played five innings in a minor-league game this afternoon for a second consecutive day to test the shoulder. He fielded three grounders, making light throws to first after each.

Huntington explained that Sanchez was ordered not to throw too hard because he had done extensive infield work this morning.

"He did everything we expected," Huntington said.

Sanchez went 2 for 5 at the plate with two doubles, each to the warning track.

Tomorrow, he will play another minor-league game and be allowed to throw full-tilt. He will accompany the team on its flight to Atlanta.

He told the Pirates this morning that his shoulder is "fine."

Huntington left open the possibility that the team will have to adjust if Sanchez has a setback but said firmly, for the first time, that Sanchez will be with the Pirates on opening day.

Osoria, 26, had been the best bet to fill one of the four bullpen vacancies entering camp and did not disappoint. He has a 6.75 ERA, but nearly all of that damage -- all five runs and five of eight hits -- came in one awful outing Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. He has struck out six and walked three.

He was out of options, meaning a player has to pass through waivers to go to the minors.

"I'm very happy to make the team," Osoria said. "Now, I have to continue to work hard."

Dumatrait, 26, was an offseason waiver claim from the Cincinnati Reds. He was tried as a starter early in camp but quickly shifted to relief - opponents were hitting him the second and third times through the lineup -- and has a 3.27 ERA in four appearances. He has allowed 10 hits and four walks while striking out six in 11 innings.

He, too, was out of options.

"I'm really excited," Dumatrait said. "I feel like I worked really hard this offseason, and it paid off."

Meek, 24, was the Pirates' Rule 5 pick in December and must remain on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the Tampa Bay Rays for $25,000. He has a 4.00 ERA in seven appearances, with eight hits, five walks and eight strikeouts in nine innings.

The Pirates' decision came down to Burnett vs. Meek, in the end, and the tiebreaker was that keeping Meek now would offer more time to evaluate him.

Meek, who has missed out on much sleep the past three days, was visibly emotional after manager John Russell told him he made the team. He had a history of control issues in the minors and nearly had his career derailed. Now, despite never having pitched above Class AA, he will be in the majors.

"Honestly, I'm kind of at a loss for words," Meek said moments after calling his family. "With all that's gone on in the last five years of my career, I can't even begin to tell you how I feel."

Meek's power arm made him most attractive to the Pirates, but he acknowledged taking something off his pitches to maintain the fine control he showed in the Arizona Fall League recently.

"I've always tried to throw the ball through a wall," he said. "Here and in Arizona, I took something off it and threw strikes."

Duffy's shoulder surgery was last August, and some in management expected he would be ready to open the season with Indianapolis. But one setback this spring cost him that chance.

He is throwing up to 100 feet now and could be cleared for game duty soon. Once ready, he will be assigned to Indianapolis but, by all accounts, remains very much in the Pirates' major-league plans.

"I'm just looking forward to getting out there and playing again," Duffy said. "But I also understand I have to be patient and get this right."

The Pirates and Braves each have set their pitching matchups for the opening series: Ian Snell vs. Tom Glavine in the opener, Tom Gorzelanny vs. rookie Jair Jurrjens Wednesday, and Duke vs. Mike Hampton Thursday.