5:08pm: In another move now acknowledged by the team, Luis Urueta will move into the bench coach role for 2020. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported that decision on Twitter.
That decision pushes Jerry Narron out of the seat he had occupied since early in the 2017 season. He’s expected to remain on the staff in an as-yet-undefined capacity.
3:12pm: The Diamondbacks have announced that they will not retain pitching coach Mike Butcher. Ken Rosenthal and Robert Murray of The Athletic first tweeted the news.
Butcher had been in his role since the start of the 2016 campaign, so he pre-dated manager Torey Lovullo and the organization’s primary front office leadership. He has previously served as the pitching coach for the Rays and Angels.
Though he was able to survive the major 2016-17 organizational shakeup, and help a few notable pitchers turn in quality campaigns, Butcher evidently wasn’t seen as the right voice moving forward. His departure isn’t part of a broader wave of change, as the remainder of the 2019 coaching staff is expected to return for 2020.
Searage?
I prefer blackened, myself.
Totally unrelated playoff question. When are the wildcard rosters announced? Does the WC winner have to use their WC roster for the NL/ALDS or can they redo the roster?
I’m not sure when rosters are announced, but teams get to reset their rosters before each round of the playoffs. I believe this applies to the Wild Card round as well, which would allow them to reset it before the DLS.
Redo
Thanks.
The NL Wild Card roster deadline is 1 ET Tuesday, and the AL deadline is 1 ET Wednesday.
Butcher and Maddon to the Angels.
Butcher was already fired by the Angels. He’s not coming back.
If he was cheap, Halos would take him back.
Not a chance. He’s a terrible pitching coach
Everyone is getting canned.
Didn’t see that coming
Can the Phillies fire there pitching coach next?
Their **
Not until the Red Sox can their “bullpen” coach and hire a real pitching coach.
I was surprised he wasn’t shown the door when Hazen took over.
I’d like to see the Dbacks promote Dan Haren as the new Pitching Coach. He has done an excellent job preparing the analytics game plans to the pitching staff since they hired him. I think he deserves a chance and would be great in the position.
Unlikely. Haren likes his current role which allows him to work from home & be with his daughter.
Could be. I think the Dbacks are starting to lean more heavily toward the analytics approach, which is why Haren makes some sense.
Whoever is named the next Dbacks Pitching Coach inherits a very deep starting rotation. There are 9 viable candidates for the season opening starting rotation. Which is why I hope the Dbacks sell high on trading Ray this off-season and putting Young in the bullpen as a much needed additional left-handed option for Lovullo.