SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Fresh off an offseason that saw him retool his mechanics, right-hander Mark Melancon is determined to once again be the D-backs' closer when the regular season opens.

¡°I want to be the closer,¡± Melancon said.

Arizona signed Melancon to a two-year contract following the 2021 season, with the idea that he would solidify the closer¡¯s role, an area with which the franchise had struggled for a couple of seasons prior. He had finished '21 with an MLB-best 39 saves for the Padres, compiling a 2.23 ERA in 64 games. It was a signing that seemed like a great fit for both sides, especially after Melancon converted his first five save opportunities with the D-backs the following season.

It would not remain smooth sailing, though, as Melancon struggled and manager Torey Lovullo eventually removed him from the closer¡¯s role.

For his part, the righty worked tirelessly with pitching coach Brent Strom and bullpen coach Mike Fetters to try and figure out how to get back on track. It was a mission that he took into the offseason, when he worked on changes to his mechanics at Cutternation Baseball Training in San Diego.

¡°I probably learned more in this offseason than I've ever learned,¡± Melancon said. ¡°Just changed a lot of my delivery, and I¡¯m still tweaking it. So it¡¯s been it's been a lot of fun, one of the most fun offseasons from that perspective. Every day just learning and getting after it.¡±

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This is the first time since 2011 that Melancon has made mechanical changes to this degree.

Cutternation calls itself ¡°San Diego¡¯s comprehensive data driven baseball training experience,¡± and as he did during last season, Melancon dove headfirst into the data again this winter.

¡°Technology's flourished and allowed us to see a lot of things,¡± Melancon said. ¡°I'm probably three or four years behind. I should have done this four years ago, but better late than never.¡±

Melancon never lacks motivation, but finishing out of the closer¡¯s role and with a 4.66 ERA -- his worst since 2012 -- just added fuel to his fire.

¡°Personally and team-wise, we didn¡¯t have a great year,¡± he said. ¡°So I definitely don¡¯t want that to happen again for sure.¡±

The D-backs added several arms to their bullpen this winter, among them Andrew Chafin, Miguel Castro and Scott McGough. There was even talk about having a closer competition in camp.

In his first media session of the spring on Wednesday, Lovullo said that while in the past he always preferred having a set closer, he might be more fluid this year and go by matchups. But he also said that someone could jump up and take hold of the role.

That¡¯s what Melancon is hoping to do.

¡°I just know that's where I belong,¡± he said. ¡°That's where I'm best at and that's where I can add the most value and that's where I want to be.¡±

Melancon, who will turn 38 in late March, views the situation as a competition against himself, as opposed to his teammates. He is focused on making himself better, while also serving as a resource for his younger bullpen mates.

¡°I don't think about competing against the other guys,¡± Melancon said. ¡°I want everybody to be really good, so it¡¯s not a competition. I know it is a competition, but I want everyone to do well. And if I say it¡¯s a competition, that means I¡¯m kind of rooting against people. And I don¡¯t want that.¡±