Diamondbacks Hire Mike Hazen As General Manager

The Diamondbacks on Sunday announced the hiring of Mike Hazen as their general manager and executive vice president. He fills the role vacated by Dave Stewart, who was fired earlier this month after just two years on the job.

“We feel very strongly that we have found the ideal candidate to lead our baseball operations,” Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick said in a statement. “Mike’s reputation throughout the game is impeccable, and his championship experience gives us great confidence in naming him to this position.”

Hazen, 40, had been the Red Sox general manager for the past two seasons, serving under team president Dave Dombrowski. A Princeton product, Hazen was drafted in the 31st round by the Padres in 1998 but had his playing career thwarted by shoulder injuries. He was hired by the Indians as an intern in 2001, became their director of professional scouting in 2003 and their assistant director of player development the next season.

He moved to the Red Sox in 2006 as the team’s farm director and became an assistant general manager in 2012. He served in that role for four season before becoming general manager.

“I’m extremely grateful for this incredible opportunity to help the D-backs reach the next level,” Hazen said in the statement. “This is a franchise that has experienced a lot of success both on and off the field in less than two decades of existence, and I’m looking forward to working with Ken and Derrick to help bring back a tradition of winning to Arizona.”

Stewart’s last season in Arizona was marked by moves for righthanders Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller. Greinke signed a six-year, $206.5 million deal and went 13-7, 4.37 in his first season. Miller was acquired during the winter meetings in a trade with the Braves in exchange for righthander Aaron Blair, outfielder Ender Inciarte and shortstop Dansby Swanson, who was just six months removed from being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Miller sputtered all season with Arizona and was eventually sent to Triple-A to try to work himself back into form. Meanwhile, Inciarte hit .291/.351/.381 with Atlanta, and Swanson rocketed through the minors before making his big league debut in August. Blair also made his major league debut with the Braves, though he struggled to adjust to the higher level of competition, going 2-7, 7.59 in 15 starts.

In Stewart’s two seasons as general manager, the Diamondbacks finished 148-176.