Grichuk, The Bullpen & More!

Time for a Pre-Spring Training round up!

It’s Waste Management Open weekend in Arizona, which means the weather is warming up and you can feel baseball right around the corner. The Diamondbacks did their part by posting workout photos/videos today:

The big news of the week is the return of Randal Grichuk! I’ve been beating the drum all offseason for a Randal Grichuk return, mainly because he was sneakily just as good as Joc last season:

Bonus point for Grichuk as he can still play the OF. At just $5M guaranteed vs Joc’s 2/37 deal. The Diamondbacks adding Grichuk solidifies depth in the offense. Here’s how I project it right now:

C: Moreno/Del Castillo

1B: Naylor

2B: Marte

SS: Perdomo

3B: Suarez

OF: Gurriel Jr (LF), Thomas/McCarthy (CF/4th OF), Carroll (RF)

DH: Grichuk

That leaves 2 more bench spots, which one will go to someone who can play the middle infield. Ideally by midseason Jordan Lawlar dominates AAA and earns a promotion back to the MLB, but he missed nearly all of last year with injuries and needs to stay healthy in 2025. Blaze Alexander & Garrett Hampson are my favorites in my opinion for this bench role, as Ketel will likely DH a good amount and 2B is Blaze’s best spot (-8 OAA at SS but +2 at 2B). The former Rockie and 2024 Royal Garrett Hampson is a great fielder who can also play the OF with plus speed. Hampson fits a bench/utility role perfectly with his versatility, late game pinch run ability, but will need to stop his bat’s decline.

Elite glove, elite speed, has experience as a low playing time utility guy. Blaze has more upside, but Hampson fits the role well.

Other middle infield options also include Grae Kessinger, a SS who the Astros DFA for Christian Walker this fall and the D-Backs ironically traded for while he was in DFA limbo. Kessinger did go hitless in 28 PA’s last season….

Old friend Sergio Alcantara is back on another MiLB deal, but is likely just organizational depth. Tim Tawa was added to the 40 man roster and flashed some serious pop and offensive potential, but he’s not very athletic and while has played 2B, he really isn’t a real MI option for a team that values defense.

The 4th bench spot probably goes to Pavin Smith as he is out of minor league options. With Naylor at 1B and 5 OF (6 if Hampson makes the team), Pavin’s only path to AB’s is at DH…. but Grichuk is just better. Randal Grichuk had a .801 OPS vs RHP, so I’m sick of him being considered a platoon bat. Also, if Alek Thomas does bounce back, his CF glove is valuable, which likely kicks Gurriel to more DH AB’s and Jake in LF. Ketel is used a lot as a DH to keep him fresh and the biggest X factor of course remains a Jordan Lawlar breakout.

The good news is, the Diamondbacks offensive depth is great. Rather than hoping players step up this season, Lovullo will be stress eating ice cream every night figuring out how to get everyone playing time. Good problem to have!

The Bullpen:

The core 4 returns in 2025, Mantiply’s spot is safe, but the bottom 3 of the bullpen could go in a lot of different directions. Mike Hazen has pointed out in multiple interviews that he can’t remember leaving a Spring Training with a fully healthy starting rotation. Right now you have:

SP1: Burnes

SP2: Gallen

SP3: Kelly

SP4: E-Rod

SP5: Pfaadt

I think those 5 are locked in. The top 4 are 100% locked in, I think Pfaadt has the lead on the SP5 spot due to his upside, 32 start durability, he’s long term a guy that should jump into the middle of the rotation too. For people who watch every game, you know Pfaadt was the king of having just 1 bad inning. He could look dominant (struck out over a guy per inning) but 1 blow up inning would bite him too often. I think a new pitching coach will be a massive boom for Pfaadt, as we hired the Phillies assistant pitching coach and Pfaadt has so much Aaron Nola in his game.

This all makes Ryne Nelson an awesome next man up SP. Go look at any Diamondbacks season, you need 7 SP’s minimum. Ryne has always pitched well in long relief too, so swinging back from the rotation to long relief is something he can handle.

Then there’s Jordan Montgomery.

I fully think once Spring Training is about half way over and teams get a good sense of what SP’s aren’t Opening Day ready and who’s hurt, teams will have SP needs and someone will take Montgomery for $8-12M.

This means we need Jordan Montgomery to throw well early this Spring. Maybe even hide him on the backfields.I think he still gets traded this Spring.

This means there’s really 2 spots up for grabs in the bullpen. Seth Martinez is out of options so he’s penciled in the bullpen, but there’s plenty of guys that can steal that spot.

Seth Martinez- DFA by the Astros, former Sunrise Mtn and ASU Sun Devil. Martinez has an average fastball of velocity of 90.4, which is in the 7th percentile and 36 K’s in 52.2 IP leaves a lot to be desired, but Seth Martinez has had success at the MLB level in multiple seasons. For what it’s worth, Martinez dominated the hitter friendly AAA PCL with 13 GP 12.1 IP 12 K 2 ER too in 2024.

Bryce Jarvis- Multi-inning eater last year going 59.1 IP in 44 GP, but his 5.8 K/9 & 1.43 WHIP left a lot to be desired. On top of that, he mainly pitched in mop up duty and will be coming back for an elbow injury last season, but may be ready for Opening Day still. Jarvis has 2 options left.

Drey Jameson- Coming off Tommy John, Drey Jameson will likely be a full time RP and if he’s still pumping 100, he can be a key bullpen piece. Jameson did struggle with control and first year back from Tommy John may make it tough for strides to happen there, but I can’t wait to see Jameson back. This is the highest upside option, I think Drey could become a 2017 Archie Bradley type electric RP.

Kyle Nelson (L)- Coming off major Thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, but should be ready for Opening Day. Kyle admitted to being hurt all April before getting the surgery, but put together solid 2022 & 2023 seasons and definitely could get back in the bullpen mix if fully healthy as he still has 2 MiLB options left. No reason why the Diamondbacks can’t carry 3 LHP RP’s if Montgomery is gone too.

Andrew Saalfrank (L)- It’s easy to forget how dominant he was late in 2023 and during the World Series run. Then Saalfrank lost his 2024 season due to gambling. Suspended on June 4th, I believe he cannot return until then in 2025. Saalfrank is sneaky old at 27, just a year younger than Nelson. Saalfrank flashed a truly elite breaking ball, but Saalfrank didn’t make the 2024 Opening Day roster surprisingly, struggled in his 2 MLB appearances, and it felt like the Diamondbacks had to have known a suspension was coming because he went from the future LHP bullpen #1 to Reno real fast. Not an Opening Day option but a midseason one.

Jeff Brigham- has been around for awhile, but his elite sweeper gives me some hope. Brigham will be 33 this season and has appeared in 90 career games between stints with the Marlins 2018-22 and 2023 Mets. Brigham didn’t make it to the majors last year but had 59 K’s in 42.2 IP. The sweeper is legit, just need to improve the arsenal around it.

Jose Castillo (L)- At age 22 broke into the majors with the Padres and looked to be an electric LHP. 52 K’s in 38.1 IP with a 0.91 WHIP and an eye popping Statcast page.

Unfortunately Castillo followed up his impressive rookie year with a long list of injuries including:

-torn hand ligament in ‘19

-missed ‘20 a lat strain

-Tommy John kept him out ‘21 & most of ‘22.

-Shoulder injuries in ‘23

The Padres threw the towel in last July, Marlins claimed him off waivers but DFA (Designated for assignment) him just a few later and Castillo became a free agent this winter. Hopefully for the Diamondbacks, Castillo can just stay healthy. The 6’6 252 ibs LHP was still hitting 95 in his lone MLB appearance in 2023. Castillo made it into 24 MiLB games last year getting 29 K’s in 24 IP with 3.75 ERA and the Diamondbacks were able to bring him back for 2025. If healthy, Castillo could return to the bigs in 2025.

Thyago Vieira - Got a cup of coffee with the D-Backs last year, but they were luckily able to sneak him through waivers. Vieira has insane stuff, pumping 99 consistently. Vieria has always struggled with command, but the stuff is exciting.

Josh Winder - Has a small MLB sample size but there's some juice here. Fastball & sinker sat at 95.1-95.5, sweeper is his offspeed pitch, strong stuff+ ratings on his sinker, curve/sweeper.

Juan Morillo - Was with the Dodgers AA squad in 2024 where he had a 4.76 ERA over 51 IP, 29 BB, 50K, but I finally get my wish as Juan Morillo throws GAS. Fangraphs has a 70 grade fastball attached to Morillo on the 80 grade scale, which is legit.

Landon Sims - I want stuff and Landon Sims has it. A Tommy John draft pick in 2022, Sims returned in 2023 and started to get fully back to pre-TJ levels between A ball levels with 85 K’s in 56.2 IP. In his last full college season on the 2021 Miss St Championship team, Sims had 1.44 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 56.1. Landon Sims is fully healthy and ready to roll, he should fly through the farm system and be an impact bullpen piece soon. I’m really really excited about Landon Sims as I have him as the Diamondbacks #13 prospect in my rankings.

I’d love to see the Diamondbacks sign another vet to a MiLB deal, but the bullpen race will be the #1 thing to watch this Spring.

Lastly as I write this… the Diamondbacks signed Trey Mancini! The wheels have fallen off for Mancini since start of 2023 as he posted a -1.4 WAR and .635 OPS with the Cubs and sat out 2024. Mancini is now 33, but he did hit 18 HR in 2022, 83 HR between 2017-19 and there’s no better place to get your bat going than Reno & the PCL. Does Trey make the team? Probably not, but worth a free flier for sure.

We’re now just 2 weeks away from the first Spring Training game, the wait is almost over.

-Goldy Happens