What would the Arizona Diamondbacks’ starting lineup look like if they did absolutely nothing this offseason? No free agents, no trades and every option on the table was declined.

The D-backs obviously have steps to take to get back into the postseason, but with the World Series starting this week and free agency to follow, it’s an opportunity to take stock of the club’s foundation before decide who to retain. or add (upcoming free agents and options are covered here).

Corbin Carroll leads a young corps that could thrive next season, perhaps with top prospect Jordan Lawlar in some capacity. Ketel Marte is coming off a superstar season and needs to be healthy this winter, while Zac Gallen has another year under contract to add to the existing urgency.

Diamondbacks roster enters offseason

Recipient

-Gabriel Moreno
– Jose Herrera
–Adrian Del Castillo

Arizona’s catching group is pretty well established unless the team brings in a veteran to compete, like it did with Tucker Barnhart last year.

Moreno is a franchise backstop who was once again named a Gold Glove finalist and has a competent bat with excellent vision. Del Castillo received his first major league chance and featured a left-handed bat with pop. He is still developing as a defensive receiver and should compete for the backup role with Herrera in camp.

Infield

– Blaze Alexander
–Jordan Lawlar
– Ketel Marte
– Geraldo Perdomo
– Pavin Smith

The dual-play duo of Marte and Perdomo is under team control for the foreseeable future, but with franchise staple Christian Walker entering free agency and Eugenio Suarez with a $15 million club option , the D-backs have decisions to make in the corners. The case for Suarez returning to the hot corner for another year is simple: He was exceptional in the second half and brings the veteran leaders into a position of need.

Walker, meanwhile, could have a line of suitors to compete with given the number of suitors in need of first basemen.

The emergency internal option for Walker would be Smith after years of part-time roles. He’s out of minor league options at this point. Smith produced a career-high .896 OPS with nine home runs in 2024, although he did so in an MLB-record 60 games (excluding 2020).

Lawlar has been Arizona’s top prospect the past two years since Carroll graduated, and general manager Mike Hazen called him a future star during 2023 exit interviews.

Still considered a top-10 prospect in baseball, Lawlar should reach a point where he’s ready to contribute next season. He has only played in 14 minor league games this season due to multiple injuries and will play in the Dominican Winter League.

But the same question at the start of last offseason persists: What role could he play with Perdomo at shortstop?

Jordan Lawlar does it in the Caribbean!

THE @Dbacks“The top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 9) finishes a triple away from the cycle for @TigresdelLicey. pic.twitter.com/5hJ8crv7iN

– MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 17, 2024

Outfield

–Jorge Barrosa
–Corbin Carroll
– Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
-Jake McCarthy
–Alek Thomas

The outfield is mostly intact, without a mutual option for lefty hitter Randal Grichuk, who likely earned more money than his $6 million option (.875 OPS) or multi-year contract.

One of the most important developments for the D-backs in 2024, looking forward, was Carroll’s turnaround after a rough start, as he adapted and came back in the second half (.919 OPS).

McCarthy has been given an everyday role, although he has lost steam in recent weeks.

Thomas could represent a pseudo-addition to the club after injuries largely spoiled his 2024 season, as well as a rough stretch offensively after returning from hamstring issues that led to an option followed by another injury. Getting his glove back in center is a weapon, but the bat will need to improve for him to return to daily playing time.

Start throwing

–Yilber Diaz
-Zac Gallen
–Tommy Henry
–Cristian Mena
-Ryne Nelson
–Brandon Pfaadt
– Eduardo Rodriguez
-Blake Walston
–Yu-Min Lin

Gallen still has a year before receiving a huge payday, and the staff ace is coming off a solid but inconsistent season by his standards (3.65 ERA). His co-ace Merrill Kelly has a $7 million club option, which seems obvious, but for the sake of the exercise, he’s on the sidelines for now.

Pfaadt and Nelson are coming off promising performances, with Pfaadt being a valuable workhorse who struggled a bit down the stretch and Nelson enjoying an exceptional second half. Rodriguez enters year two after signing a four-year contract last winter, and the D-backs will count on more production after an injury kept him out until August.

Jordan Montgomery also has a $22.5 million player option, meaning the D-backs could be looking at six pitchers for five spots this spring.

Diaz stood out in his coffee cup in starting games, while Mena and Walston also made their MLB debuts in 2024. The D-backs needed all the help they could get from their depth departure this year.

Bullpen

–Slade Cecconi
– Kevin Ginkel
–Brandon Hughes
-Joe Mantiply
– Justin Martinez
-AJ Puk
–Ryan Thompson
– Andrew Saalfrank (after suspension)
-Drey Jameson
-Kyle Nelson
-Bryce Jarvis

The D-backs bullpen has struggled with depth down the stretch, but reinforcements are coming from the injured list. Jameson didn’t pitch at all in 2024 after Tommy John surgery, Nelson lost most of the year to thoracic outlet syndrome, Jarvis finished the season on the IL with a sprained elbow and Saalfrank will be eligible in June after a one-year ban for betting on baseball when he was in the minor leagues.

Paul Sewald is a free agent, but otherwise most of the bullpen remains under team control, including midseason trade acquisition Puk.

Will Puk close its doors in 2025? And Martinez? Certainly, Diamondbacks executives are eager to answer the deeper question again during spring training.

Simulated programming: RF Carroll, 2B Marte, DH Gurriel, 1B Smith, LF McCarthy, C Moreno, 3B Lawlar, CF Thomas, SS Perdomo

Simulated rotation: Gallen, Rodriguez, Pfaadt, Nelson, Diaz

Simulated bullpen: Martinez, Thompson, Ginkel, Puk, Mantiply, Jarvis, Nelson, Jameson

The point: There’s a quality base level of talent here, but a lot of work to do for depth, adding power after scoring the most runs in MLB and filling out the rotation. Just bringing back Suarez and Kelly makes a big difference, and the focus turns to first base, designated hitter and the bullpen.

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