Arizona Diamondbacks: Mike Hazen Becomes New VP and GM
By Josh Schwam
In what turned out to be a relatively quick search, the Arizona Diamondbacks have named Mike Hazen, the Boston Red Sox General Manager, as their new General Manager and Executive Vice President.
After being defeated in the first round of the American League Playoffs, the Boston Red Sox have lost their general manager. Mike Hazen, who has been with the organization since 2006, worked his way up from Director of Player Development to GM in February 2015. Hazen has been with the team for two World Series championships (2007,2013). That said, Hazen was not the GM for either championship.
The now former GM for Boston did not give himself enough time to complete a good team. Yes, the Red Sox are losing David Ortiz. However, they are still a good enough team to compete in the coming years. With Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and several young prospects still developing, Boston was a team that could compete for a championship in the future. Hazen left unfinished business in Boston.
The #Dbacks have named Mike Hazen their Executive Vice President & General Manager. pic.twitter.com/ZVMLb0kdOK
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 16, 2016
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By leaving an unfinished team in Boston, Hazen goes to the Arizona Diamondbacks who are looking to start competing in the next several years. The organization certainly has confidence in their new general manager, “We feel very strongly that we have found the ideal candidate to lead our baseball operations,” 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.”
There has been some question about Hazen being a true GM. CBS Sports Insider Jon Heyman made his questioning public when he tweeted, “Hazen was really an ass’t GM in Boston (tho had GM title). People say he’s ready. Will add stat emphasis to AZ equation.”
After making several major acquisitions last offseason, Arizona was looking to win the National League West. That however, did not happen; the Diamondbacks went 69-93 and star free agent Zack Greinke struggled immensely. Another player who was supposed to be essential to the Diamondbacks failed postseason chase was Shelby Miller. Hazen is counting on both players to rebound drastically in 2017.
Switching to a player who had a fantastic 2016, shortstop Jean Segura had 203 hits and a .319 batting average in his year with Arizona. Along first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas, the Diamondbacks future is not as bleak as it seems.
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Hazen has a lot to look forward to in the desert. Although that team has a bright future, it is hard to forget the more immediate success he was probable to have in Boston. Either way, Hazen is sitting on a king’s chair right now as he takes over the general manager role for one of the bright young teams in baseball.