Biggest questions after D-backs' trades

There were some familiar faces missing when the D-backs reported to work Tuesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium one day after the team dealt four players in separate deals.

Left-hander Robbie Ray, closer Archie Bradley, center fielder Starling Marte and injured reliever Andrew Chafin were gone. So was right-hander Taylor Widener, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right rib cage.

In their place, the D-backs promoted four players from their alternate training site: infielder/outfielder Josh Rojas, right-hander Artie Lewicki, left-hander Joe Mantiply and right-hander Keury Mella.

Lewicki, Mantiply and Mella will join the team’s bullpen.

“Me and Jake Lamb were talking about it,” shortstop Nick Ahmed said. “Some of those guys we played with for a long time, came up together and been together for seven, eight years. It’s difficult to see guys like that go, guys that mean so much to you personally and to the team. You understand the business side of the game, but from a personal standpoint, relationship standpoint, team-camaraderie standpoint, it hurts.”

With the changes come questions. Here are a few:

1. Who replaces Bradley as the closer?
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said that, for now, he will use a bullpen-by-committee approach, depending on matchups. Whoever steps up during that time likely will get the bulk of the save opportunities.

Widener could have been a candidate -- after opening the year as a long reliever, Lovullo had been using him in higher-leverage situations of late -- had he not gotten hurt.

Some combination of Junior Guerra, Stefan Crichton, Héctor Rondón and Kevin Ginkel will likely be used.

2. Who replaces Starling Marte in center?
Daulton Varsho, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the team’s No. 3 prospect, got the start in center field on Tuesday. He will likely split time out there with Ketel Marte.

Varsho is a catcher first, but he has shown the versatility to play in the outfield, and if the team wants to give him at-bats while still also allowing Carson Kelly to develop behind the plate, center field would allow them to do that.

Ketel Marte played well in center last year, and having him play there would open time for another prospect, Andy Young (No. 18), to get some reps at second base.

3. Who takes Ray’s spot in the rotation?
Zac Gallen is set to start Wednesday and Luke Weaver on Thursday. After that, the D-backs' probable starters are TBD.

Madison Bumgarner, on the injured list with a mid-back strain, threw a bullpen session on Monday and will throw another one Wednesday. Still, it seems likely that Taylor Clarke will get another start in Bumgarner's place before the lefty returns. Whose place Bumgarner takes will be determined at that time.

4. Why aren’t Caleb Smith and Josh VanMeter with the team?
Smith and VanMeter are both going to report to the team’s alternate training site at Salt River Fields and go through the COVID-19 protocols and intake testing.

The team will then have to decide when Smith, who last pitched July 25 before testing positive for COVID-19, is stretched out enough to join either the rotation or the bullpen.