PHOENIX -- All the Diamondbacks' coaches will be offered a chance to return to the organization, with roles still to be determined.
"We're still working through that," GM Mike Hazen said. "We haven't finalized every decision."
While Hazen did not want to get into specifics, it is expected that first-base coach Dave McKay, bench coach Jeff Banister, pitching coach Brian Kaplan and hitting coach Joe Mather will remain in their roles.
One of the biggest questions figures to be what happens with the third-base coaching slot. Shaun Larkin replaced Tony Perezchica last season, but he was removed from the position in August and replaced by Tim Bogar, who had been a Minor League instructor.
Larkin remained on the staff as infield coach for the final two months of the 2025 season. Whether Bogar returns to the role at third and what role Larkin fills is not clear at the moment.
"We obviously have a huge need to improve in certain areas, and they know that we've met with a lot of them and talked through some of the ways that we can do that," Hazen said of the staff.
One area that both Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo cited in their end-of-season meeting with the media last week was the need to play cleaner baseball to open the season.
While injuries played a huge role in the Diamondbacks' disappointing season, even when they were healthy in April, they made uncharacteristic fundamental and defensive mistakes that led to a slow start to the year.
That did improve as the year went on, but there is a mandate to figure out how to avoid that in 2026. Lovullo began laying out to players during his exit interviews with them over the last 10 days the changes that could be in store for Spring Training.
“I feel very strongly that we need to create a little sense of urgency in Spring Training that, when you walk into a big-league season and start a big-league season, it's not OK to just kind of put your foot on the gas pedal and make a lane change,” Lovullo said. “I want to gas it and get in the fast lane as soon as possible.”
Hazen and Lovullo also agreed that the poor defensive play early in the season likely had an impact on the struggles of the pitching staff, particularly the starters.
“I think as much as we were all complaining about the results of the pitching staff in the first half, it was very difficult for me to tease out where the pitching wasn't up to par and where the defense was below,” Hazen said. “Those things were in combination with each other.”
Surgery for Locklear
When the Diamondbacks acquired first baseman Tyler Locklear from the Mariners at the Trade Deadline, the hope was that they would get a two-month look at him to gauge where he was in his development.
Locklear did get 31 games in, but his season was cut short on Sept. 7 when an errant throw from infielder Jordan Lawlar led him into the baseline, and he injured both his left elbow and shoulder.
After testing and second opinions, it was determined that Locklear had both a ulnar collateral ligament injury in his elbow and a labrum injury in his shoulder, both of which will require surgery next week.
Because it is on his non-throwing side, Locklear's recovery should be quicker. Hazen was hopeful that he will be an active participant at some point during Spring Training.
Lawlar to play this winter
Lawlar is expected to play winter ball this month, though the Diamondbacks are still finalizing those details.
A shortstop through the Minors, Lawlar started seeing some time at second and third base last year because veteran shortstop Geraldo Perdomo is signed to a long-term deal.
Ranked as the Diamondbacks' top prospect this past season, Lawlar struggled defensively at third base in September and was used mainly as a designated hitter while the club reworked his fundamentals at third.
Lawlar will see time at third in winter ball, but he will also get a look in center field, which is another potential landing spot for him.
"This will give us a better understanding of what he looks like out there heading into Spring Training, how much work would be needed to have him stay out there, all that kind of stuff," Hazen said.