Diamondbacks Spring Updates: Kelly, Pfaadt, Mena Making Moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks are zeroed in on building a healthy, reliable starting rotation in spring training. Merrill Kelly’s back issue is already casting a shadow over their Opening Day hopes.

The team’s juggling contingency plans in case Kelly can’t get stretched out to start on March 28 in Los Angeles. They’re also sizing up internal depth, but honestly, there isn’t much big-league experience behind their projected five starters.

Let’s break down Arizona’s rotation situation, what Opening Day might look like if Kelly’s not ready, and some practical moves the club could make as things ramp up.

Spring Training’s Big Question: Will Merrill Kelly Be Ready for Opening Day?

Kelly’s back has kept him out of the Opening Day starter conversation. Even after MRI and CT scans didn’t show much, he’s still feeling pain when throwing.

He might be able to go for the Diamondbacks’ second series after Opening Day, which kicks off March 26 in Los Angeles. The team’s left with a lot of uncertainty and is planning for several possible outcomes as spring training heats up.

Projected Opening Day Rotation If Kelly Is Placed on the IL

If Kelly lands on the injured list, the likely rotation would be Zac Gallen, Eduardo Rodríguez, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, and Michael Soroka. Pfaadt had a side issue in the offseason, but so far, he looks good, though the club’s keeping a close eye on his workload.

This group is young and on the rise. Soroka could work as a long-relief or swingman option, sliding into the rotation if someone else goes down later in the season.

Depth Behind the Five: The Inexperience Lurks

Once you get past those five, the Diamondbacks’ depth gets pretty thin on major-league experience. The 40-man roster has a handful of young arms, but most haven’t spent much time in the bigs.

• Cristian Mena: He re-aggravated a teres major strain that sidelined him after June last year. He’s shut down from throwing for now and probably won’t be available anytime soon.
• Yilber Díaz: He’s only logged 31 1/3 MLB innings so far, so the team’s understandably cautious about throwing him into regular-season action right away.
• Kohl Drake
• Mitch Bratt
• Dylan Ray

Bottom line? The reserve group doesn’t have reliable, innings-eating veterans who can step in if a starter goes down. Soroka could move from the bullpen to the rotation if needed, but it seems like the club will try to develop from within before handing big roles to the less experienced guys.

Non-Roster Depth and Potential Free-Agent Options

Beyond the 40-man depth, the Diamondbacks have some non-roster arms with major-league experience. If spring doesn’t go as planned, they might have to tap into that group.

The front office could also look for veteran starting pitchers in free agency. Of course, the budget will have a say in any late-spring moves, especially after they added Gallen this offseason.

• Joe Ross — He’s a veteran who could step in as a depth option if they don’t have a reliable long-reliever or swingman.
• Thomas Hatch — He’s bounced around a bit and could fill in for spot starts if things get thin.
• Bryce Jarvis — A rookie with some upside, maybe he gets a shot if the situation calls for it.

External upgrades? Sure, that’s possible, but they’ll have to weigh the cost against the idea of just sticking with or developing their own guys. People keep mentioning names like Lucas Giolito or Zack Littell in trade and free-agent rumors. Still, any real pursuit would need to fit within Arizona’s payroll, especially after locking up Gallen.

As spring gets closer, the Diamondbacks will keep a close eye on Kelly’s recovery. They’ll also be checking to see if any other arms look ready for big-league innings.

Honestly, there’s a lot riding on healthy returns and maybe a little luck. A few timely veteran additions wouldn’t hurt either, as long as they fit the team’s needs and budget.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Diamondbacks Notes: Kelly, Pfaadt, Mena