3 D-backs storylines to follow this spring

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.

Welcome to the D-backs Beat newsletter. Spring Training is now less than a week away. So we’re going to open this edition with a preview of some of the things we’re most interested on keeping an eye on this spring. Let’s get right to it:

1) Who will win the final spot(s) in the starting rotation?

Four pitchers will head to camp as front-runners for the rotation: Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Madison Bumgarner and Zach Davies.

• What to know about D-backs Spring Training

That leaves one spot open, and there are a slew of young pitching candidates who could fill it. Tommy Henry, Ryne Nelson and Drey Jameson -- who made their big league debuts last year -- along with Brandon Pfaadt -- who would have if not for the fact that the D-backs didn’t need to add him to the 40-man roster this winter -- are the lead candidates.

That’s a lot of candidates for one spot, but as we’ve seen plenty of times in the past, injuries happen, guys struggle and having depth is so important that you never hear organizations say, “We have too much pitching.”

It’s possible that the D-backs could shift one of the younger pitchers to the bullpen, but that is more likely to happen during the season if there’s a need. That’s because the club will want to keep starters stretched out at Triple-A Reno, so that if there are injuries or struggles during the season, Arizona will have options.

2) Who is going to be the closer?

The D-backs thought they had this issue solved last offseason when they signed veteran Mark Melancon to a two-year contract, but the right-hander struggled and was removed from the role by manager Torey Lovullo.

Reworking the bullpen was a big focus of the D-backs’ offseason, and they added a number of arms like Miguel Castro, Scott McGough, Carlos Vargas, Cole Sulser, Austin Adams and Jeurys Familia to create more depth.

Lovullo likes to have a designated closer if possible, and it looks like the D-backs will enter camp with an open competition for the role. Melancon, Kevin Ginkel and Joe Mantiply could be returning candidates, while some newcomers like McGough and Castro will also get looks. Closer competitions are difficult to have during Spring Training because of the lack of true closing situations, so the D-backs will have to evaluate the candidates throwing in other scenarios to determine who will be the guy.

It also is worth watching how the bullpen overall shakes out, with so many arms in camp.

3) Who will win the final spot on the position-player side?

Heading into camp, it seems a good bet that Carson Kelly, Gabriel Moreno, Christian Walker, Ketel Marte, Nick Ahmed, Josh Rojas, Evan Longoria, Jake McCarthy, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll have the inside track for jobs.

Based on the roster composition, I would add Geraldo Perdomo to the mix because Ahmed is coming off right shoulder surgery and will need days off. It’s also possible that Perdomo wins the starting job during spring, but we’ll see.

That would leave one spot open, with Kyle Lewis, Pavin Smith and Emmanuel Rivera the leading candidates.

Again, this is just speculation on my part, but given the way it looks heading into camp, there could be a fierce battle for that final spot or spots on the roster.