Diamondbacks president/CEO Derrick Hall said Monday and he and general manager Mike Hazen “are always having conversations about his future,” and that the two had talked about a possible extension. “I can’t envision us going a different direction with what he’s built and his [leadership] team, too….I’m more than willing to have conversations with him at any point,” Hall told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
Hazen is nearing the end of his seventh season in change of the Diamondbacks’ front office, and the Snakes are on pace (79-72) for their fourth winning season of Hazen’s tenure. Arizona entered today’s action in possession of the second NL wild card slot, though three other teams remain within a half-game of the D’Backs in the tightly contested playoff race. (The Phillies hold the top wild card possession and are 3.5 games ahead of Arizona.) Should the D’Backs crack the postseason field, it will mark their first playoff appearance since 2017, when they claimed a wild card berth in Hazen’s first season with the team and then advanced to the NLDS to face the Dodgers.
With winning records in his first three seasons in the desert, Hazen received a contract extension in September 2019, which locked up him up through at least the 2024 season (the D’Backs have a club option on his services for 2025). However, the Snakes struggled badly in the immediate aftermath of Hazen’s new deal, going 77-145 over the 2020-21 seasons. Opting against a full rebuild in the wake of those two seasons, Hazen instead retrenched to some extent, signing Ketel Marte and Merrill Kelly to new extensions and hoping for a relatively quick turn-around. That rebound seems to be taking place this season, and NL Rookie of the Year favorite Corbin Carroll leads a crop of well-regarded prospects that could provide the franchise’s next wave of talent.
It isn’t surprising that Hall is interested in retaining Hazen, nor that other clubs have noticed the Diamondbacks’ progress. Hall noted that he and Hazen had discussed an extension prior to the firing of Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom last week, and ESPN’s Buster Olney reported over the weekend that the Sox had some interest in perhaps bringing Hazen back to Fenway Park. Hazen is from Massachusetts, and he previously worked in the Red Sox front office from 2006-16.
The D’Backs would have grant permission to any other team for an interview with Hazen, and Hall said the Red Sox “haven’t contacted me, and I hope they don’t. He’s under contract and we like him.” When asked by Piecoro how the D’Backs would approach a situation where Hazen showed interest in an interview, Hall admitted “that would be a tough one. I feel like we both negotiated a contract for a reason; contracts protect him just as they protect us. He’s aware of that. He’s meant a lot to this franchise. I really like the situation he has navigated and created here, so I just can’t see us going in a different direction.”
Someone in the comments of the Red Sox/Hazen thread suggested this would happen.
glad you’re back to spread your typical brand of uniformed takes
Although her un-uniformed takes might be pretty great…just sayin
no. all her takes suck. They’re stream of consciousness nonsense that now include politics too
Bruh you don’t wanna go there it’s probably a 60 year old dude
most likely
My guess is Hazen is waiting for a ballpark salary number for the Red Sox and White Sox positions for leverage but neither teams can give him one as he remains under contract. Both teams aren’t in a hurry so Hazen can afford to ride out his current contract.
no one is listening to you but way to shoehorn in a terrible political take.
Look at the payrolls, too.
We don’t have to listen to you. We have a mute button. Goodbye.
Great idea gbs42
maybe learn how to use the reply link or better yet just don’t bother writing anything to begin with.
Nope bye Felicia
You’re wicked demented!!!
Sox need to call Brian Sabean.
Look at his draft history. He’s given the D’backs their best prospect pipeline since the early-to-mid 2000’s. There’s a lot more that goes into building a franchise beyond the win/loss record
Diamondbacks hold the second WC spot as of today. Focus on breaking even with a mere $180 million before worrying about us.
Marky Mark, in the article, you say that the dbacks would have grant permission but the owner seems to imply that he would not do so, given his remarks about him being under contract. So which is accurate?
Question: if he’s being offered a promotion would the D backs still be able to deny him permission?
No.
I belive John Henry will be very surprised when nobody that he wants will want the job. He will HAVE to promote from within, meaning nothing changes.