D-backs Extend General Manager Mike Hazen

The Diamondbacks agreed to a long-term extension with General Manager Mike Hazen after making the playoffs.

As reported by Nick Piecoro of AZ Central the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a long-term extension for General Manager Mike Hazen through the year 2028 with a club option for 2029. The team has not confirmed this news. It's a new five-year deal that is replacing his previous deal set to expire after next year.

There were rumors that the Boston Red Sox, in need of a new President of Baseball Operations, were strongly considering making a run at Hazen. As it turns out, that will not be the case with the D-backs choosing to extend him. Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall had mentioned last month that the D-backs had been already negotiating with GM Mike Hazen on a new long-term deal. Now, following the second playoff appearance under Hazen's leadership and their surprising win over the Brewers, Hazen is tied to the organization for a long time. He's set up to potentially be the longest-tenured General Manager in franchise history.

Hazen had spent 12 years in Boston before coming to the Diamondbacks. General Manager Mike Hazen took over in the fall of 2016 and hired Torey Lovullo to be the team's manager. Seven years later, the two remain in their current roles and have overseen a dramatic shift in the franchise direction. After making the playoffs in 2017, their first year, they had good seasons in 2018 and 19' before struggling badly in 2020 and 21'. After bottoming out in 2021, they had a decent year in 2022 seeing growth from their youngest players. In 2023, the team fully broke out as they reached the National League Wild Card playoffs. The D-backs are banking on this being just the beginning stepping stone for the new core of the D-backs. They are expecting multiple playoff appearances with Hazen remaining in charge of the team.

Reportedly, the D-backs extended the contracts of Hazen's Assistant General Managers, Amiel Sawdaye and Mike Fitzgerald, to deals of the same length as Hazen's. They both came to the franchise soon after Hazen was hired in 2016.

Hazen remade the team even more during this past season making numerous key moves that would lift the D-backs to the postseason. He traded Daulton Varsho for Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. He acquired Tommy Pham and closer Paul Sewald at the trade deadline. The three moves that if didn't happen would likely mean the D-backs don't make the playoffs this year. In fact, the only three players on the playoff roster that Hazen did not acquire or draft are Geraldo Perdomo Kevin Ginkel and Jose Herrera.