The Arizona Republic

Post-Goldy era starts for D-Backs

- Nick Piecoro PATRICK BREEN/THE REPUBLIC

They have been trickling into Salt River Fields for weeks, Diamondbac­ks players looking to get ready for the start of spring training. Many of the faces are familiar, others are not, but the big difference between this season and others in the club’s recent past is those who aren’t going to be arriving.

“We’re kind of joking around, but we keep looking around like, ‘All right, when are the guys going to come in?’ ” Diamondbac­ks reliever Archie Bradley said. “And, like, we are the guys. I think we’re all starting to realize that.”

When pitchers and catchers gather on the agility field in advance of their first workout on Wednesday morning, it will mark the first official team activity in life after Paul Goldschmid­t.

Of course, Goldschmid­t wouldn’t be there even if he hadn’t been dealt – the first full-squad workout isn’t until next week – but the clubhouse seems ready to embrace the reality that’s been taking shape since the slugger’s trade to the St. Louis Cardinals in December.

“I think the biggest thing we’re all trying to do is –

you know, Paul’s gone,” Bradley said. “We really want to hark on that. Paul’s not here anymore. We’re not the Arizona Goldschmid­ts. I mean that in the most respectful way. Paul was amazing here and is a legend forever. But it’s time to most past the Goldschmid­t era and have us step up and play some baseball here.”

Goldschmid­t is the most significan­t player to depart among of a mass exodus of veterans from the Diamondbac­ks’ roster this winter. In addition, the club parted ways with, among others, center fielder A.J. Pollock, lefty Patrick Corbin, catcher Jeff Mathis, right-hander Clay Buchholz and infielders Daniel Descalso and Chris Owings. All left as free agents.

What the Diamondbac­ks will be losing on the field is one thing – and it is substantia­l, with Goldschmid­t, Pollock and Corbin all having been highly productive during their time with the team. Still, the roster remains filled with relatively accomplish­ed players at nearly every position, giving the holdovers reason to be hopeful.

“I’ve heard everybody talking about a rebuild all year long and maybe all of us will get shipped out,” right fielder Steven Souza Jr. said. “But I look around and see a very talented room. Obviously it’s tough losing the guys we lost, but there’s still a lot of talent in this room.

“It’s not every team you look around there’s eight, nine – I don’t know how many we’ve got – guys who, in the past, have been All-Stars at some point. Everybody’s got to come and show up and do their part and step up.”

What remains to be seen are the less tangible effects of the departing veterans.

Manager Torey Lovullo was asked during a Q&A session at the organizati­on’s fan fest event on Saturday who he expected to replace Goldschmid­t as the team’s leader. He mentioned Bradley as having some of the characteri­stics required, but he added that he had challenged others – he didn’t say who – to take on a bigger role.

“We’ve spent a lot of time in the offseason talking about that exact subject,” General Manager Mike Hazen said. “How

Diamondbac­ks camp: What to know

The Diamondbac­ks’ 22nd spring training and ninth at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick begins Wednesday with the first workout for pitchers and catchers.

Workouts are open to the public. Fans may park in the Desert Lot on the north side of the complex, best accessed via 90th Street off of Via de Ventura.

Players are scheduled to be on the field from 9-11 a.m. daily through Sunday; the first full-squad workout is Monday.

The team's first Cactus League game is Feb. 23 against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields.

Visit dbacks.com/spring for more informatio­n.

do we cultivate it? How do we empower guys to do that? How do we implore guys to contribute to that? And I think they did it in the past. It’s not like it wasn’t happening, it’s now that, without Paul being here, it’s going to be different.

“I just think Paul was the gold standard – no pun intended – in terms of his example that he set, in terms of who he was as a person and as a baseball player. And we all know that players follow guys that are that talented. I think it’s just going to be different.”

Bradley, for one, sounded as if he and others are ready to shoulder the responsibi­lity. Though the roster might have fewer stars, it doesn’t lack in experience. Every position but one has a player with at least four years’ experience.

“We’ve still got some guys with a lot of service time who are actual vets, but a lot of us – even minus the guys we lost – have been around a while,” Bradley said.

“We’re in our fourth and fifth year. And we’re kind of the guys that are going to be producing and carrying the load. We’re kind of realizing that and are ready to take it upon ourselves.

 ??  ?? Diamondbac­ks manager Torey Lovullo will have to replace All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmid­t, who was traded to the Cardinals in the offseason.
Diamondbac­ks manager Torey Lovullo will have to replace All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmid­t, who was traded to the Cardinals in the offseason.

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