The Diamondbacks kept busy in the offseason, adding two regulars (1B Adam LaRoche and 2B Kelly Johnson), two starting pitchers (RHPs Edwin Jackson and RHP Ian Kennedy), and two setup men (RHPs Bob Howry and Aaron Heilman). They had to do something: Without RHP Brandon Webb and with the NL's second-worst defense in 2009, they slipped to 70-92.

ARRIVALS: RHP Edwin Jackson (trade with Tigers), RHP Ian Kennedy (trade with Yankees), 2B Tony Abreu (trade with Dodgers), RHP Aaron Heilman (trade with Cubs), RHP Bobby Howry (free agent from Giants), 2B Kelly Johnson (free agent from Braves), 1B Adam LaRoche (free agent from Braves), RHP Kris Benson (minor league free agent from Rangers).

DEPARTURES: RHP Max Scherzer (traded to Tigers), LHP Daniel Schlereth (traded to Tigers), 1B Josh Whitesell (non-tendered, signed minor league deal with Nationals), LHP Doug Davis (free agent, signed with Brewers), 3B/1B Chad Tracy (free agent, signed minor league deal with Cubs), OF Eric Byrnes (released, signed with Mariners).

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Brandon Webb

2. RHP Dan Haren

3. RHP Edwin Jackson

4. RHP Ian Kennedy

5. RHP Billy Buckner

The D-backs are holding their breath that Webb can return to the top of the rotation after August shoulder surgery. He was arguably the best pitcher in the NL from 2006-08, when he was first, first and second in the Cy Young race.

Haren had career-best numbers while taking over as the ace last season, making his third straight All-Star team. The D-backs identified Jackson and Kennedy early and got them in a three-team deal at the winter meetings. Buckner finished well last season, but he must continue to spot his pitches well.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Chad Qualls (closer)

RHP Bob Howry

RHP Aaron Heilman

RHP Juan Gutierrez

LHP Clay Zavada

RHP Blaine Boyer

LHP Zach Kroenke or RHP Leo Rosales or RHP Esmerling Vasquez

Qualls missed September after suffering a fractured left kneecap on a freak fielding play, but he believes he will be ready by spring training. He had a career-high 28 saves in his first season as a closer and will fill that role again, although Gutierrez was 9-for-9 in save chances after Qualls went down, and Gutierrez throws 97 mph.

Veterans Howry and Heilman were obtained to add experience to a bullpen that scuffled to a 4.61 ERA last season, the second highest in the NL, with mostly young arms. Zavada is the only lefty with a strong hold on a roster spot.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. SS Stephen Drew

2. LF Conor Jackson

3. RF Justin Upton

4. 1B Adam LaRoche

5. 3B Mark Reynolds

6. C Miguel Montero

7. CF Chris Young

8. 2B Kelly Johnson

The D-backs do not have a true leadoff hitter, although Drew has done his most productive work at that spot -- a .283 career average and an .814 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Young has the speed to hit first but does not make enough contact, although he might be tried there again.

Jackson, who missed most of last season with a viral infection known as valley fever, is a patient hitter, and he does not have to hit out of position at cleanup with the addition of LaRoche and the continued maturity of Upton, Reynolds and Montero. Johnson had a down year in 2009, but the D-backs believe an arm injury was the culprit.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C Chris Snyder

OF Gerardo Parra

INF/OF Ryan Roberts

INF Augie Ojeda

INF/OF Rusty Ryal or OF Cole Gillespie or INF Tony Abreu

Snyder, who lost his starting job after suffering a back injury last season, is a student of the game and a good handler of pitchers. He had been Webb's personal catcher for most of 2006-08, and it will be interesting to see if that remains the case.

Parra has the arm and range to play all three outfield spots, but he struggled at the plate against left-handed pitchers last season. Roberts can play second, third and left field and has a little pop, and Ojeda is a solid defender at three infield positions. Both Roberts and Ojeda had career-best offensive seasons in extended time last year. Ryal hammers lefties, and that might be enough to give him an advantage for the final position-player spot.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RHP Brandon Webb (right shoulder cleanup surgery in August 2009) had not thrown to hitters this spring as of March 19. He said he was shooting for a late-April return to the majors. Webb threw a side session March 14 in front of Dr. Keith Meister, who performed Webb's August shoulder debridement operation. Meister said Webb was right on track.

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