This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert¡¯s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PHOENIX -- With the calendar flipped to 2025, the Diamondbacks are happy to put 2024 in their rearview mirror.

Now, let's be clear about something: Arizona had a good year in 2024, increasing its win total from 84 to 89 games.

But 2024 still feels like a disappointment to management, players and fans, because after 2023's win total led to a postseason berth and a World Series appearance, last season's total left Arizona on the outside looking in on the playoffs by one game.

We can rehash all the games that the D-backs could have won that would have put them in the playoffs last season, but it's a new year, so let's instead look ahead to the 2025 campaign:

One realistic free-agent target who would still be a perfect fit: RHP Kirby Yates
GM Mike Hazen has said one of his goals this offseason is to add a reliever to the back end of his bullpen that has closer experience. Yates certainly fits the bill, having closed games for the Padres in 2018-19 and for the Rangers last season. He¡¯s headed into his age-38 season, so he probably could be had on a short-term deal -- which would likely appeal to Arizona. Yates might be costly, given that he appeared in 61 games for Texas last year and compiled a 1.17 ERA while saving 33 games and allowing just 23 hits in 61 2/3 innings of work. Do the D-backs want to invest that kind of money in a closer with Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk returning? We¡¯ll see.

One player poised to have a breakout season: OF Corbin Carroll
It's a bit of a stretch to call Carroll a breakout candidate considering he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2023, but hear me out. Carroll struggled through a terrible stretch at the plate for the first half of the 2024 season, but after he figured out some issues with his swing, he put it together in a big way in the final two-plus months. In the first half, Carroll had a .635 OPS in 94 games, and that jumped to .919 in 64 games in the second half. Given how consistent he was in his rookie season, expect Carroll to come flying out of the gates in 2025 and once again be amongst the best in the league.

One prospect to watch: SS Jordan Lawlar
The D-backs' confidence in Lawlar was reflected in their decision to DFA shortstop Nick Ahmed in September 2023 and call up Lawlar, who made his big league debut in the midst of a heated pennant race. Ranked as the the D-backs' No. 1 prospect and No. 9 overall by MLB Pipeline, Lawlar played winter ball to make up the at-bats that he lost when injuries limited him to just 85 at-bats in the Minor Leagues in 2024. Arizona still believes in Lawlar, and if he is healthy you can expect to see him in the big leagues. It might not be at shortstop -- Lawlar also played second and third in the Dominican Republic in winter ball -- but the D-backs will want him in their lineup.

One prediction for the new year: The pitching will be better
The D-backs led the Majors in runs scored last year (886), but they finished a game shy of making the postseason because their pitching took a big step backward (4.62 ERA, 27th in the Majors) from 2023 (4.48 ERA, 20th). It seems almost a certainty that the staff will post better numbers in 2025, and it's not because the D-backs have hired a new group of pitching coaches. Rather, it's because they should have better health and the peripherals should even out. Last year, every member of Arizona's starting rotation, aside from Brandon Pfaadt, spent time on the injured list. Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery all have proven track records, plus Corbin Burnes will be joining the fold. Better (and longer) outings by the starters should also help keep the bullpen from being taxed like it was last season.