Diamondbacks’ Chris Owings squeezed off roster, sent to minors

(Photo: Brett Davis, Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)Facing a roster crunch after Tuesday’s trades, the Diamondbacks optioned veteran Chris Owings to Triple-A Reno, opting to carry an extra arm in the bullpen over a bench player who had been squeezed out of regular at-bats in recent weeks.

Owings’ departure cleared the way for left-hander Andrew Chafin, who had been on the paternity list for the past three days but was more a direct result of the club’s acquisitions of relievers Brad Ziegler and Jake Diekman. With all three of those pitchers on the roster, the Diamondbacks are carrying eight relievers and just four bench players, two of whom are catchers.

Owings has been mired in what’s…