The Purple Sox have began in search of a brand new entrance workplace boss, and a well-known face could be on their radar since ESPN’s Buster Olney (X hyperlink) experiences that Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen “is likely one of the names mentioned” as a possible candidate. Hazen is a Massachusetts native and he beforehand labored for the Sox from 2006-16, together with a stint because the membership’s common supervisor through the 2016 season. Hazen was the highest lieutenant underneath president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski that yr earlier than Arizona employed him away to steer their entrance workplace.
Hazen’s time within the desert has included the lows of two brutal seasons in 2020-21, and the highs of a playoff look in 2017, three profitable information in six full seasons, and a membership that’s preventing for one more postseason berth with a 79-72 file this yr. Between this season’s success and the wealth of high quality younger expertise in Arizona’s farm system, Hazen won’t essentially be too keen to contemplate a job change, particularly contemplating that the D’Backs have him underneath contract by the 2024 season (with a membership possibility for 2025).
As Olney notes, Hazen may probably leverage any curiosity from the Purple Sox into a brand new extension from the D’Backs, although one would think about that Arizona was already seeking to retain an govt who has seemingly gotten the workforce again on monitor. Because the Diamondbacks must give permission for Hazen to be interviewed by one other membership, it’s doable Boston’s curiosity may go unexplored if the D’Backs aren’t keen to offer that consent. It additionally isn’t identified if Hazen is seen as a first-rate candidate for the Sox, or in the event that they have been performing some pure due diligence early of their entrance workplace search on an skilled govt with many previous Boston ties.
Extra from across the NL West…
- Alex Cobb lately revealed that he has been pitching by hip discomfort for over three months, although he has nonetheless posted a good 4.20 ERA over his final 13 begins and 70 2/3 innings pitched. The Giants have been making an attempt to handle the harm with a cortisone shot and a few additional relaxation, as Cobb had eight days between his most up-to-date two begins, and shall be engaged on eight extra days of relaxation when he’s scheduled to take the mound Tuesday for a giant recreation with the Diamondbacks. Cobb underwent hip surgical procedure in 2019, although he informed Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he doesn’t consider he’ll want one other process to deal with his present impingement (which is in his left hip, whereas his proper hip beforehand obtained the surgical restore). Nevertheless, Cobb did add “I ought to get extra readability on it, truthfully,” which is one thing of an ominous admission for the veteran hurler. Attempting to robust it out carries some additional danger for Cobb since he technically isn’t underneath contract for 2024 — San Francisco holds a $10MM membership possibility ($2MM buyout) on his providers for subsequent yr.
- The Rockies positioned left-hander Kyle Freeland on the 15-day injured listing immediately as a result of a proper indirect pressure, so Freeland gained’t pitch once more through the 2023 season. The indirect harm compelled Freeland to make an early exit from Saturday’s recreation, and continued the season-long string of pitching accidents that has devastated the Rockies’ workers. It was a irritating yr total for the veteran southpaw, who posted a 5.03 ERA and one of many sport’s lowest strikeout charges (13.9%) over 155 2/3 innings.
