Amiel Sawdaye Joins Hazen In Arizona

The Diamondbacks on Wednesday announced the hire of Amiel Sawdaye—who worked with new Arizona general manager Mike Hazen in Boston—as senior vice president and assistant GM.

Sawdaye, 39, had been with the Red Sox since 2002, and worked with Hazen in Boston from 2006-16.

Sawdaye’s primary responsibilities with the Red Sox involved amateur scouting and international scouting. From 2010-14, he ran the draft and during that time Boston drafted Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, Travis Shaw, Deven Marrero, Trey Ball, the now-traded Carlos Asuaje, Michael Kopech and Michael Chavis, among others.

Sawdaye interviewed to become assistant GM in Boston under Dave Dombrowski and said the meeting went well, but said the challenge of the new start and working with Hazen again made Arizona desirous.

“The relationship with Mike made it most appealing,” Sawdaye said in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. “It’s a team with good, young talent. There are really good people here, good staff, good players up and down the roster. It’s a good challenge. I’m excited to be out here in the desert.”

Hazen said Sawdaye would work on the pro side in Arizona after working the amateur and international fronts in Boston.

“We worked together for a long time and I had the opportunity to watch first-hand how he’s grown as a front office executive,” Hazen said. “He did so many things in the office in Boston that contributed to so many good players being there. He was involved in the process around drafting and signing players and contributed to major league decisions.

“He’s passionate about baseball and he’ll add a lot to what we’re doing. He’s a huge piece to what we’ll be doing.”

Sawdaye joined the Red Sox front office in 2002 as an intern.

Hazen said the Diamondbacks are in the process of finding a manager after Chip Hale was fired on Oct. 3. There is speculation the Diamondbacks will seek to interview Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo.