5 questions still facing D-backs for 2022

Now that there is a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place and Spring Training is set to open, here is a look at five pressing questions for the D-backs:

1) Can the D-backs find more bullpen help?
There was no question as to what the D-backs’ top priority was in the offseason, something general manager Mike Hazen made clear not long after the season ended.

"The bullpen needs to be rebuilt and taken a hard look at," Hazen said. "We certainly, on the whole, struggled out there."

Yes, they did. Only the Orioles had a worse bullpen ERA than the D-backs, who checked in with a 5.08 mark.

The D-backs took a step in that direction on Dec. 1 when they signed closer

Mark Melancon to a two-year contract and signed arbitration-eligible relievers Noé Ramirez and J.B. Wendelken, who were two of their more reliable arms down the stretch.

Still, it seems there’s more work to be done in that area.

There is expected to be a flurry of free-agent activity now, and there are still plenty of reliever arms on the market. It's almost a certainty that the D-backs will be involved in trying to get at least one more proven arm in the mix. What's unknown is whether they laid significant groundwork with any agents of relievers before the lockout began.

2) Who's on third?
At the GM Meetings in November, Hazen talked about the possibility of acquiring a third baseman via trade, particularly one that had years of control left.

With no trade talks happening during the lockout and time short before camps open, the D-backs may not have an opportunity to pull off a deal.

If the D-backs don't add a third baseman, it likely leaves

Josh Rojas as their first option. Rojas took a huge step forward offensively last year and has shown he can play third, but the team also likes his ability to play multiple positions.

Josh VanMeter is also on the 40-man roster, as is Drew Ellis, who still has believers in the organization even after struggling at the plate during his debut last year.

A wild card could be prospect

Geraldo Perdomo, a natural shortstop, who could be looked at as a stopgap at third, with Nick Ahmed presumably opening the year at short.

3) Who is the fifth starter?
Despite their struggles on the mound last year, the D-backs appear to have a pretty set rotation heading into camp with Madison Bumgarner, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Luke Weaver.

Taylor Widener opened the year in the rotation last year, but the team shifted him to the bullpen during the season and that seems to be where they see him fitting in best.

Tyler Gilbert may be the frontrunner heading into Spring Training simply based on his performance last year. The left-hander made his big league debut in 2021 at the age of 27 and tossed a no-hitter in his first big league start.

Gilbert made nine appearances (six starts) and compiled a 3.15 ERA, which should give him a leg up on the competition heading into camp.

4) Who is in center?
With Ketel Marte all but certain to move back to second base, the D-backs have a hole in center field that they will need to fill.

With Daulton Varsho establishing himself last year as one of the team's best hitters in just his second big league season, he seems to be the leading candidate. There will be games where Varsho catches, however, so they will need to have a backup.

Jake McCarthy, who made his Major League debut last year, is an excellent defender in center, and the team acquired outfielder Jordan Luplow from the Rays earlier in the offseason. Pavin Smith also saw time out there last year but is better suited to play a corner outfield spot or first base.

While it's unlikely, it's not completely out of the realm of possibility that the club’s No. 3 prospect, center fielder Alek Thomas, could make the Opening Day roster.

Thomas has done nothing but hit since being selected in the second round out of high school in 2018, and he is an outstanding defender. It's more likely that he starts the year in Triple-A, but he figures to be in the big leagues at some point in 2022.

5) Can the new coaches help?
The D-backs made way too many fundamental mistakes both defensively and on the bases last season, and that is a big reason the organization turned over a large portion of its coaching staff.

Jeff Banister (bench), Brent Strom (pitching), Joe Mather (hitting), Damian Easley (assistant hitting), Dan Carlson (assistant pitching) and Barry Enright (assistant pitching) were added to the staff, and the D-backs are trying a slightly different model in 2022.

Carlson and Enright will split time between the Minor Leagues and the big leagues, as will assistant hitting coaches Drew Hedman and Rick Short, who finished last season as the team's co-hitting coaches.

The idea is to make sure that there is a consistent message on both the hitting and pitching sides being delivered in the Minors and Majors.

The organization has already been thrilled with what Strom has brought to the table. Already, he has dissected the team's pitch mix and determined that they need to throw more fastballs up in the zone. His ability to blend analytics and old-school pitching knowledge has opened eyes in the organization.