4:55pm: Arizona has announced the hiring. Lovullo will receive a three-year deal, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter).
12:03pm: The Diamondbacks will hire Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo as their new manager, reports John Gambodoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM in Phoenix (via Twitter). Lovullo, who obviously has a strong connection with former Red Sox GM and newly minted Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen, has long been rumored to be the favorite for the managerial vacancy that opened when the D-backs fired Chip Hale at season’s end. The D-backs were said as of yesterday to be choosing between Lovullo and their own Triple-A manager, Phil Nevin.
Lovullo has been Boston’s bench coach for the past four seasons and comes with quite a bit of managerial experience, albeit most coming in the minor leagues. Lovullo spent 10 seasons as a minor league skipper between the Indians and Red Sox organizations and also acted as interim manager for the Red Sox while John Farrell underwent treatment for lymphoma late in the 2015 season. Lovullo has long been touted as a managerial prospect and was reportedly one of two finalists for the Twins’ vacancy before the team hired Paul Molitor prior to the 2015 season.
With Lovullo joining the Diamondbacks, the Red Sox have now lost three highly influential organizational figures to Arizona in a span of mere weeks. Hazen left his post as the Red Sox GM to take the same title with the D-backs, and while the move isn’t a promotion in the sense of title, it certainly is in terms of responsibility; Hazen was the clear No. 2 to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski in Boston but is the top decision-maker in his new role with the Snakes. Additionally, now-former Red Sox vice president of international/amateur scouting Amiel Sawdaye followed Hazen to Arizona, where he’ll serve as a senior vice president and assistant general manager.
The Red Sox completely blew this. They decided to keep Farrell, a guy that pulled Andrew Benintendi in game 3 against the Indians, when he was one of the only few Red Sox hitters actually producing in the postseason. But now lovullo is gone, and he looked like he had a good grasp on the clubhouse in September 2015. He could have been a smart and successful manager. But we’re stuck with Farrell, a guy who can’t set a lineup, can’t manage a bullpen or bench, and pinch runs Stephen Wright.
I agree. Farrell is infuriating.
Yeah but he benched Sandoval so he can’t be all bad! 🙂
Anyone would have benched sandoval
I agree!!after Gibson is Farell
Ryan Hanigan got way too much playing time down the stretch. And Tazawa kept being used late in the games over Ziegler… Why, I have no idea
You all have zero clue about running a baseball team. Farrell is well respected with the Sox players and throughout all of baseball. While losing Luvullo hurts the club house, it’s unfair to scrutinize JF after he beat cancer, barely missed any time while doing chemo, and then led the Sox to the post season. Why don’t we see how the Sox land after next season before you all start bashing the crap out of him.
The Red Sox were successful in spite of Farrell, not because of his leadership. Pinch running Stephen Wright with a big lead and in July was an idiotic move that cost the Red Sox a reliable arm and necessitated the Drew Pomeranz acquisition, which didn’t pan out very well. His management in the Indians series was horrific. He is a terrible manager. The cancer excuse is not a very good one, because unfortunately it doesn’t change how he manages.
The Stephen Wright think ticked me off. That has got to be one of the worst moves out there.
Agree, I remember in 2014 (I think) when he managed 50 games of that terrible team, and Luvello did so well, leading a last place team to a 28-20 record. I understand you can’t fire a guy because he got cancer, that would be wrong, but the Red Sox should have been far more critical of Farrell from that point forward. If I were DD, Luvello would be my the Red Sox, not D-backs manager today. But, I wish him luck and hopefully Farrell can brush up on his skills on the offseason.
Correction, that was 2015 (I think), although it feels like ages ago
Sox continue to lose quality personnel. This is a loss for John Farrell’s staff – not good. Lovullo will be missed. Does Butterfield take TL’s spot?
This was a fait accompli when Hazen went to AZ
Dombrowski has really done some damage, with Hazen and Sawdaye leaving, now he let’s Lovullo go, DD needs to delegate some more power to front office personnel so people don’t keep leaving
No team blocks a persons chance to better their career. No team. So chill out.
DD manages the organization via a directorship. Bosox knew this when they hired him. It was only a matter of time to see the front office team leave. DD will not delegate power. It is what it is. Boston’s new normal.
Is directorship the word you meant?
Soooooo the Sox make Lovullo the HIGHEST paid bench coach, and refuse other teams to talk to him last yr… Only to let him walk, while Farrell enters his lame duck yr as manager… Got it
Man people need to get their facts straight. The Sox didn’t block Lovullo from going anywhere. It was his personal choice out of respect for JF and the organization after JF was diagnosed with cancer.
Not true. He had a clause in his contract that blocked him taking another position for one year.
As a DBacks fan, I’m very happy with this hire. Hopefully Phil Nevin is promoted to a position with the major league coaching staff. He’s earned the opportunity with his work managing in Reno. Next order of business should be to rebuild the bullpen and add some depth in the rotation and on the bench. We’re finally headed in the right direction!
Completely agree. Would love to see Nevin as a coach for them in the majors. Our bullpen needs a ton of help, hopefully Ziegler comes back.
They just need to fire Mike Butcher and they’ll be good, besides bullpen help of course. That pitching staff shouldn’t be THAT bad, even in the climate down in AZ.
Yeah, Butcher needs to go. Bring in someone fresh.
That sucks for the socks because I though he was good when Farrell had cancer but I respect Farrell
Congrats to Lovullo.. It seems that he has been mentioned for a managerial position for a decade. The Steve Wright error is not the only thing JF has messed up. I really do not understand how he handles his pitchers. His worst habit is he leaves them in too lo
They should have let Farrell go and gave his job to Lovullo. I’ve always felt the Sox have had success at times in spite of Farrell. I’d really like to Sox to move on from Farrell sooner than later.
Enjoy this move, D-Backs fans. You’re getting a good man.
All you people crying to get rid of Farrell are the same idiots that cried to get Tito out of town. Please shut up before some one listens to you!
Meanwhile all the ex-Sox are eating chicken in Chicago, Theo gets the last laugh, he was the Sox now they have a Tigers mentality. The Sox should win again with all the young talent they have, but first they have to learn how to survive in Boston. The Cubs will be there next year, not sure about the Sox.
What do you expect with that media garbage machine that pumps out piece after piece of liberalized clap-trap in the city? It oozes into every pour of the town and into the sports columnists too. Nobody in that town knows what’s going on with most every reporter writing with a tilted (severely left) agenda.
Can you tell me what relationship your comment has to the selection of managers and front office people? I’m sure this can somehow be blamed on Obama and that nasty old mainstream media, but–connect the dots for me.
Curt Schilling for Red Sox manager?
LOL what?
Farrell is the worst manager in baseball, nothing he has done proves me wrong… Lovullo proved he was better when he took over last year…resigning Farrell is nothing more than a PR move because he battled cancer nothing more nothing less…we will not win BECAUSE of Farrell but the diamond backs will win BECAUSE of Lovullo…
Another Sparky Anderson prodigy from his time in Detroit. How fitting on tue anniversary of his death.
Like to see Varitek as bench coach or 1st base coach
I like where this is going
Funny thing, Theo and Jed go after Lester and Maddon and Theo let Price go to the Sox.
You knuckle staggers are the same idiots that ran Tim Thomas out of Boston after the Bruins won the cup! You’re so eaten up with your screwed liberal mind set, you can’t think for yourselves. You just eat up what ever the liberal media tells you to eat!
*Knuckle Draggers
But then Thomas sucked, so it was ok.