Pitchers

RHP Zack Greinke

Vitals: 6-2, 200; age 35

2018: 3.21 ERA, 207 2/3 IP

Scout’s take: “I’ve only seen one start this spring and it was as good as I’ve seen him throw in the last couple of years. I know he was working on a cutter or a hard slider, so that would give him another weapon. As long as the command is there, he’s going to be fine. He’s probably not the ‘ace’ anymore, but he’s a No. 2 starter on a pretty good team.”

LHP Robbie Ray

Vitals: 6-2, 195; age 27

2018: 3.93 ERA, 123 2/3 IP

Scout’s take: “I think he’s going to have a good year. I think he’s going to bounce back after having a down year last year. He might not be as good as he was in 2017, but his fastball, curveball -- all his pitches, they definitely play. He might walk more than you’d like but he’ll miss enough bats to make up for it.”

RHP Zack Godley

Vitals: 6-3, 240; age 28

2018: 4.74 ERA, 178 1/3 IP

Scout’s take: “That could go one way or the other. At the back of your rotation, if you have guys up top that are strong and you feel good about, your tolerance for him could be higher. He can go out there and throw seven innings and strike out 10 or he could go an inning and a third and hit a bunch of guys. He’s a bit of a wild card.”

RHP Luke Weaver

Vitals: 6-2, 170; age 25

2018: 4.95 ERA, 136 1/3 IP

Scout’s take: “I saw him probably two or three years ago and it was an impressive arm. He throws strikes with his fastball. I had some minor concerns about the quality of the secondary stuff, but then I saw him again the other day and he’s pitching now. His fastball command was good, he threw strikes with his offspeed stuff and he mixed it well. It wasn’t just hard and harder. I’m kind of a fan of his.”

RHP Merrill Kelly

Vitals: 6-2, 190; age 30

2018: 4.09 ERA, 158 1/3 IP

Scout’s take: “I saw one start from him and it was good. He had some late run and late sink, good two-seam action on the fastball. Good breaking ball. He was around the plate with everything. He looked confident. I was more impressed with him than I thought I was going to be. He looks like a competent fifth starter based on what I saw there.”

RHP Archie Bradley

Vitals: 6-4, 225; age 26

2018: 3.64 ERA, 71 2/3 IP

Scout’s take: “If the fingernail is good to go, that curveball can get back to being a good weapon for him. When I saw him, he looked good, looked sharp. I’d anticipate him having a nice year. I would think that if he doesn’t open the year as the closer, he’ll be closing by the end of the year.”

RHP Greg Holland

Vitals: 5-10, 205; age 33

2018: 4.66 ERA, 46 1/3 IP

Scout’s take: “There’s some smoke-and-mirrors a little bit now with him. He’s got to rely on guys chasing, got to rely on a fair strike zone. He’s not the Holland he was those years in Kansas City. He’s transitioning into a different type of pitcher and he’s going to have to pitch smarter.”

RHP Yoshihisa Hirano

Vitals: 6-1, 185; age 35

2018: 2.44 ERA, 66 1/3 IP

Scout’s take: “He has solid command of the fastball and an out pitch in the split that should give him the opportunity pitch in high-leverage situations for them. But he won’t have the benefit of sneaking up on anyone this year. And he’s a year older at 35.”

LHP Andrew Chafin

Vitals: 6-2, 225; age: 28

2018: 3.10 ERA, 49 1/3 IP

Scout’s take: “He’s as good as he is mainly because of his attitude. He’s one of the tougher guys you’ll see on the mound. It’s a no B.S., coming at you, challenge mode. It’s an effective left-handed reliever who can even face righties. I think a lot of it has to do with his makeup. He’s a high-leverage guy in my opinion.”

LHP T.J. McFarland

Vitals: 6-3, 220; age 29

2018: 2.00 ERA, 72 IP

Scout’s take: “I missed him this spring because of his injury, but based on what I’ve seen in the past, he’s a strike-thrower, a good lefty out of the bullpen, and I don’t think he’s just a situational guy. I think he has the pitch mix to negate right-handed hitters, too. He was always a guy who provides multiple innings. That’s a valuable guy.”

RHP Yoan Lopez

Vitals: 6-3, 185; age 26

2018: 2.92 ERA, 61 2/3 IP (Double-A)

Scout’s take: “He’s an interesting arm. There’s power there. It seems like the move from the rotation has made him more focused. I think down the road he could be a late-inning guy. It’s late-inning type stuff for sure, but it’s hard to anoint a guy as a trusted back-end reliever until you spend some time with him and see him doing it a little bit.”

RHP Matt Koch

Vitals: 6-3, 215; age 28

2018: 4.15 ERA, 86 2/3 IP

Scout’s take: “His velocity was up a tick when I saw him the other day. It’s a good pitch mix. This is an obvious thing to say, but everything he does is based on command and if he locates, he’s got the pitch mix to be successful. If he’s going to be in the bullpen, which it looks like he is, he’s a competent swing man and everybody needs someone in that kind of role.”

LHP Marc Rzepczynski

Vitals: 6-2, 220; age 33

2018: 6.97 ERA, 10 1/3 IP

Scout’s take: “He’s that lefty specialist, the kind of guy who could get phased out with those new rules next year. Assuming he’s the guy he was in the past, you trust him against lefties but you don’t feel so good with him against righties. If you have Chafin and him in your bullpen, those are two solid lefties in the mix back there.”

LHP Robby Scott

Vitals: 6-3, 220; age 29

2018: 1.86 ERA, 48 1/3 innings (Triple-A)

Scout’s take: “He’s not a stuff guy. He’s more deception. He’s a tough kid. So there’s some strong makeup and confidence and belief in himself. That’s one of his strengths. There’s not really any elite pitch or even elite command, but he’s got the fortitude to handle situations and bear down and make pitches.”

Position players

C Carson Kelly

Vitals: 6-2, 220; age 24

2018: .269 AVG, .773 OPS (Triple-A)

Scout’s take: “I think he’s going to end up being the starter and get most of the at-bats. To me, he is a no-brainer starting catcher. I think the bat is going to play and I think that’s going to put him ahead of most catchers in the league right away. I think he’ll be an above-average hitter, at least compared to other catchers, with double-digit homers.”

C Alex Avila

Vitals: 5-11, 210; age 32

2018: .165 AVG, .603 OPS

Scout’s take: “I think he looks better this year than he did last year in spring training. He’s had better quality at-bats, looks a little more limber behind the plate. He’s never going to be a high-energy type player, but he’s really comfortable with who he is. I think he’s going to have a better season than last year.”

C John Ryan Murphy

Vitals: 5-11, 205; age 27

2018: .202 AVG, .619 OPS

Scout’s take: “He’s kind of a one-side-of-the-ball player, a defensive specialist. Thevalue is in his receiving. He can help control the running game a little. His blocking has just been so-so for me. But, offensively, anything you get is unexpected. It’s a bonus.”

1B Jake Lamb

Vitals: 6-3, 215; age 28

2018: .222 AVG, .655 OPS

Scout’s take: “I think he’s going to be fine at first base. He’s got big shoes to fill, but I think first is kind of a natural progression. He was never a great defender at third, and I think his skill-set will work well over there. He might be a little rusty after missing so much time last year but it’s a special bat that will fit in the middle of every lineup.”

1B Christian Walker

Vitals: 6-0, 220; age 27

2018: .299 AVG, .922 OPS (Triple-A)

Scout’s take: “I’ve been impressed with how short his swing is and how well he goes the other way. It’s compact, it’s powerful, it’s a good approach. I have some concerns about velocity on the inner-half, but I have that concern about so many guys it’s almost not worth saying. I think it’s his time to get an opportunity.”

2B Wilmer Flores

Vitals: 6-3, 205; age 27

2018: .267 AVG, .736 OPS

Scout’s take: “I think that’s an undervalued pickup by them. Offensively, he’s a very important guy, especially while they wait for Adam Jones to find his groove. Flores might be the guy who is the difference-maker as far as delivering big hits. He just lengthens the lineup a little bit. With him, it’s about health and keeping his legs healthy enough to play second base. If he’s struggling there and letting balls get through, that creates an issue.”

CF/2B Ketel Marte

Vitals: 6-1, 165; age 25

2018: .260 AVG, .768 OPS

Scout’s take: “I think he’s going to be useful in the role they’re going to put him in. I think adding Adam Jones will be helpful because Marte will be better bouncing around the field. I think he’s still putting it together. There’s impact tools. But it’s more discipline and approach. He’s still a work in progress.”

SS Nick Ahmed

Vitals: 6-2, 195; age 29

2018: .234 AVG, .700 OPS

Scout’s take: “I’m an Ahmed fan. I think he’s one of the better shortstops in the league. He improved offensively, a better approach. The games that I’ve seen, his pitch selection looks like it’s improved. And whatever he hits will probably be enough with the defense he provides. He’s fun to watch defensively.”

3B Eduardo Escobar

Vitals: 5-10, 185; age 30

2018: .272 AVG, .824 OPS

Scout’s take: “I think that extension is going to work out really well for them. He’s a switch-hitter, good defender, versatile. He can handle the middle of the infield if they need him to. I think he’s a better athlete than people give him credit for. I like his loose style of play. He’s confident and he plays with a joy for the game that is fun to watch.”

LF David Peralta

Vitals: 6-1, 210; age 31

2018: .293 AVG, .868 OPS

Scout’s take: “I think he’s going to naturally step into the leadership role on this team. His energy level is better than anybody else. He has a real passion for the game. His power showed up last year; it might regress a little bit, but I think he’s really turned into an impact player who is going to be a critical part of that team.”

CF Adam Jones

Vitals: 6-2, 215; age 33

2018: .281 AVG, .732 OPS

Scout’s take: “I’m a big fan. I think he’s going to be able to be a stabilizing force from an offensive standpoint. I think that’s something they needed. He brings more of a professional-type approach. And I think his presence itself is going to be really positive for that ballclub. I think he’s better than his numbers were last year. I think he’ll be a little rejuvenated in a new environment.”

RF Steven Souza Jr.

Vitals: 6-4, 225; age 29

2018: .220 AVG, .678 OPS

Scout’s take: “I like what he brings to the table. I like the power aspect. I think he’s going to drive in some runs. Hopefully, he’ll stay healthy. He looks like a solid-average defensive player. I think he’ll hit for a respectable average; if I have to project, I’d say .250-.270 with 20-ish home runs or thereabouts. And that’s OK. If he does all that, if he meets those projections, then you’ve got a pretty nice everyday player.”

OF Socrates Brito

Vitals: 6-2, 205; age 26

2018: .318, .923 OPS (Triple-A)

Scout’s take: “I think Brito is a capable fourth outfielder. He’s a bit of a bigger body for how athletic he is, but he moves well for his size. He’s had a tough spring, which is something he needs to overcome, but the skill set is there, the history is there, he’s a capable fourth guy who can give you some good at-bats.”

OF Jarrod Dyson

Vitals: 5-10, 165; age 34

2018: .189 AVG, .539 OPS

Scout’s take: “If he’s healthy, he’ll give value from a defensive standpoint. And coming off the bench, being able to run or pinch-hit, there are some things he’s going to be able to do in that regard that can be helpful. He’s a bench piece, not a guy you’re committing 600-plus plate appearances to.”

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.

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