Diamondbacks’ roster nearly set, but questions remain at shortstop

As the Diamondbacks packed up and moved out of Salt River Fields on Tuesday, their roster continued to come into focus. They added a pair of relievers. They sent down a shortstop. They dropped hints about how their rotation will be deployed.

But with four days before the start of the season, the Diamondbacks still have some decisions to make when it comes to their roster construction, though most of the heavy lifting appears to be complete.

Perhaps the most significant decision announced Tuesday was a sort of non-decision. Chris Owings, Nick Ahmed and Ketel Marte have been engaged in a three-headed competition at shortstop, but after Marte was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday morning, manager Torey Lovullo did not declare a winner.

Instead, he suggested that Owings and Ahmed will both see time, though he hinted at the possibility of an everyday-ish player emerging.

“I’m not going to define the playing time there,” Lovullo said. “I know that we talked about there being a competition. We know that both guys are on the team. I’m still going to sort through that road map and figure out that playing time and that situation.”

He also pointed to Owings’ versatility – he has been seeing time in right field in recent weeks – a comment that seems to suggest a platoon of sorts at shortstop. In his career, Ahmed has fared better against left-handed pitching, against whom Owings could shift to right field to replace the left-handed hitting David Peralta.

“You’re going to probably see somebody trending towards playing every day (at shortstop),” Lovullo said, “but by no means will either guy be a backup consistently sitting on the bench.”

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Of the two, Owings is the better offensive player, and he outperformed Ahmed at the plate during spring training, hitting .352 with a double, two triples and two homers. Ahmed doubled on Tuesday afternoon – off a lefty – and finished the Cactus League schedule with a .259 average.

Ahmed, though, has always been the stronger defender, and recently has looked like his normal self a few months removed from hip surgery. He made a slick play on a hard-hit ball in the ninth inning on Tuesday.

The bullpen also continued to take shape. Facing deadlines to give them spots on the Opening Day roster or potentially release them, the Diamondbacks added right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen and lefty Jorge De La Rosa.

Wilhelmsen’s addition comes as little surprise. Featuring a power fastball/breaking ball combo, he gave up just one run in 9 1/3 innings in spring training.

De La Rosa was less certain to make the club. Though he exhibited solid stuff, including a fastball up to 95 mph, he also allowed five runs on 11 hits in eight innings, walking six and striking out five.

The Diamondbacks still have two spots remaining in their bullpen, one of which seems likely to go to veteran J.J. Hoover. And barring an external addition, the final spot will go to one of Andrew Chafin, Silvino Bracho or T.J. McFarland.

In light of outfielder Gregor Blanco’s oblique strain, the final bench spot seems likely to go to outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker.

MORE: Roster decisions loom as camp winds down

Security Blanco

General Manager Mike Hazen said Blanco’s injury factored into the club’s decision to release the veteran outfielder on Monday night – the team faced a deadline to add him to the roster, pay him a retention bonus or release him – but the Diamondbacks were able to re-sign him to a minor-league deal by Tuesday morning.

Blanco said the new deal he signed included the same $1 million base salary and chance for $3.5 million in incentives as his original contract.

Hazen said the deal has a May 15 opt out if he’s still in the minors. Blanco was assigned to Triple-A Reno, but Hazen intimated that, once healthy, Blanco is likely to be promoted to the majors. Blanco could begin to resume activities in seven to 10 days, in a best-case scenario, Hazen said.

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Rotation rumination

Lovullo wouldn’t yet say what his rotation order would be, but he suggested left-hander Patrick Corbin would follow Opening Day starter Zack Greinke, with Taijuan Walker, Robbie Ray and Shelby Miller coming after them. The pitchers have lined up that way throughout the spring, with the current arrangement allowing each of them, with the exception of Greinke, an extra day of rest before their first start.

The Diamondbacks claimed first baseman/outfielder Christian Walker off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and designated right-hander Evan Marshall for assignment. Walker, who turned 26 on Tuesday, has just 27 at-bats at the big league level in his career. In parts of five minor league seasons, he’s hit .276/.342/.449, including hitting .264 with 18 homers last season in Triple-A Norfolk.

Hazen said the club liked Walker’s power potential and felt it could stand to improve its depth at first base.

Marshall had a strong season in relief for the Diamondbacks in 2014 but his results have suffered the past two seasons. He gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings in six appearances in the Cactus League.

The Diamondbacks have been dangling his name in trade talks in recent days, and a trade remains a possibility.

The Diamondbacks also placed outfielder Socrates Brito (dislocated finger) on the 60-day disabled list.

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.