ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs staff retains Mike Butcher, Dave McKay; Williams and Grace let go

Nov 8, 2016, 5:00 PM | Updated: 5:18 pm

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke, right, talks with pitching coach Mike Butcher a...

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke, right, talks with pitching coach Mike Butcher after giving up a three-run home run to Los Angeles Dodgers' Corey Seager during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen confirmed to Today’s Knuckleball’s Jack Magruder and others at the MLB meetings on Tuesday that the Diamondbacks have retained pitching coach Mike Butcher and first base coach Dave McKay, both of whom were already under contract through 2017.

Hitting coach Dave Magadan will also return, according to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford.

Butcher spent his first season with the D-backs in 2016 and oversaw a pitching staff that struggled mightily to record a regular season ERA of 5.09, the highest in the majors.

McKay will enter his fourth season with Arizona and is credited with leading the D-backs’ aggressive base-running tactics over the two years under manager Chip Hale’s leadership.

Following manager Torey Lovullo’s hiring, Arizona has also let go of two familiar faces. As first reported by Arizona Sports 98.7 FM host and AZCentral.com columnist Dan Bickley, the D-backs won’t bring back assistant hitting coach and former Arizona first baseman Mark Grace.

MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert confirmed the report and added that former D-back player and last year’s third base coach, Matt Williams, will also not be on Lovullo’s staff. Hazen additionally said bullpen coach Garvin Alston will not return.

Grace spent the last two years working under manager Chip Hale’s staff after his coaching career began in 2014 as a hitting coach with the Diamondbacks’ Single-A affiliate in Hillsboro, Ore.

The former MLB first baseman spent 13 seasons with the Chicago Cubs before he closed his career playing in Arizona from 2001-03. Grace followed his playing career by becoming a broadcast analyst for the D-backs and FOX Sports until 2012.

Williams joined the D-backs last year after he lost his managerial position with the Washington Nationals. He replaced Andy Green, who left for the San Diego manager position. As a player, Williams spent his final six MLB seasons with Arizona in 1998-2003.

Additionally, the D-backs announced that Jared Porter will become assistant general manager and senior vice president under Hazen. The 36-year-old worked for the Red Sox from 2006-2015 but spent the last year with the World Series-winning Chicago Cubs.

Arizona also promoted Mike Bell to VP of player development and Josh Barfield to assistant director of professional scouting.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr....

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks keep good times rolling with 14-run inning, Opening Day rout of Rockies

What the Diamondbacks accomplished in the third inning against the Rockies on Thursday night was completely new for those in the ballpark. 

6 hours ago

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flips his bat during Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 Opening Day...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks score 14 runs in a single inning to beat Rockies on Opening Day

The Arizona Diamondbacks set franchise marks with 13 hits and 14 runs in the third inning of their 2024 Opening Day game against the Rockies.

9 hours ago

Blaze Alexander...

Alex Weiner

Blaze Alexander did all he could to make Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster

Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander put together a spring that made it too difficult for the team to send him back to the minor leagues.

13 hours ago

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

16 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

18 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

18 hours ago

D-backs staff retains Mike Butcher, Dave McKay; Williams and Grace let go