There were a lot of questions this week about whether the D-backs would be interested in Wood or Trevor Hoffman. Neither one will end up in an Arizona uniform.

As far as Wood is concerned, he figures to get a multiyear deal and some think as much as $10 million per year. The D-backs don't have that kind of money to spend.

The same goes for Hoffman, who will get less. If the organization doesn't feel it can spend more than $3 million on Randy Johnson, I don't see how it would be able to spend more than that on Hoffman.

I know that a lot of fans would like to see the D-backs acquire a closer, but the club seems content to go into Spring Training with Chad Qualls in that role.

After an up-and-down first half of the season, Qualls seemed to really find himself in August (1.98 ERA in 14 games) and September (0.00 ERA in 13 games). Can he handle the closer's role? We will find out, but in talking with club officials, they seem confident that he can.

I know that it is popular to criticize Brandon Lyon for the job he did as a closer last year, but I just don't feel the reason the D-backs did not win the National League West was because he was in that role. The blame for that falls on the D-backs' offense.

On the one hand, I am unhappy that the Diamondbacks didn't figure out a way to better their offer for Johnson, but on the other, I don't understand why Johnson didn't just agree to play for $2.5 million. I don't know who to blame in this situation, but I'm not happy that we won't get to see him win his 300th game in a Diamondbacks uniform.
-- John R., Phoenix

Have a question about the Diamondbacks? E-mail your query to MLB.com Diamondbacks beat reporter Steve Gilbert for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content. First Name, Last Initial: Hometown: Email Address: Question:

I certainly understand the frustration, John, but I don't think you can blame either side. The D-backs obviously are having some financial issues at the moment that prevent them from paying more than the $2.5 to $3 million they offered Johnson.

It is a lot of money, but in the context of baseball, it really is not for a pitcher like him, so you can't blame him for turning it down. I think this was a situation where both sides would have preferred to reach a deal, but the money did not add up for either side.

What will the D-backs' rotation look like next year now that Johnson is unlikely to return?
-- Steven U., Phoenix

Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Doug Davis, Max Scherzer and an open competition for the No. 5 spot is what I would envision. It's also possible that as Spring Training gets closer, the D-backs might be able to find a free-agent starting pitcher that they could sign at a discount to fill that fifth spot. Otherwise, Yusmeiro Petit and Billy Buckner, among others, would compete for it during Spring Training.