Could Torey Lovullo consider leaving the Diamondbacks?

As a decision awaits on whether the Arizona Diamondbacks bring back manager Torey Lovullo for next season and beyond, another angle of the situation lingers: Could the 10-year manager leave on his own?

Dave Burns and John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo pondered the question on Thursday, and Gambadoro explained how the decision isn’t just a front office decision by owner Ken Kendrick and general manager Mike Hazen, and Lovullo has as much say in the decision as well.

Burns and Gambadoro said that should Lovullo, who is in the final year of his contract, become a free agent, he would be a manager many teams would pursue if spots open up. Gambadoro added that it’s doubtful Lovullo would accept a one-year deal to return to Arizona.

“I highly doubt that Torey Lovullo would accept a one-year deal. This guy has been here for 10 years; he took a team to the World Series, he’s 11 games over .500 this year … There seems to be an ownership group that is not totally convinced that he’s the right guy for the job,” Gambadoro said.

“If that’s the case, then maybe he does decide to say ‘let me see what’s out there.'”

The Diamondbacks (85-74) enter the final three games of the regular season two games back of the Philadelphia Phillies (87-72) for the third and final National League Wild Card spot. Arizona’s elimination number is 2 after their 12-8 win over the Colorado Rockies and the Phillies’ 5-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. The D-backs will face the San Diego Padres (88-70), who currently hold the top National League Wild Card spot.

Through 10 seasons (2017-2026), Lovullo has posted a 749-766 record, the most wins by a manager in D-backs history. During that time, Arizona reached the postseason twice, including a run to the 2023 World Series.

Since 2023, the D-backs have missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

Lovullo joined Burns & Gambo on Sept. 18 and said he would “probably” need to reach the postseason to earn more time as the D-backs skipper.

“I mean, the realities of it, when I sit back, and I think about it at night, like we got to get to this big dance. If we do, things will take care of itself. If it doesn’t, I’m in a totally different evaluation space,” Lovullo said.

“It’s not my job (to worry about it). I want to make sure that they know how hard I’m working. And I think the right people know what I’m about every single day.”

D-backs president praises Torey Lovullo for managing job in 2026

D-backs team president Derrick Hall told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Thursday that Lovullo has done “a heck of a job” managing the team this season and that’s not a sure thing the team moves on from him if Arizona fails to make the postseason.

“This year is probably his best year,” Hall said. “You could look at ’23 getting into the World Series, and there’s a lot of criticism towards him saying, ‘Well, look, you came up a game short, then you came up two games short.’ Don’t you want to be in it every year?

“I mean, he’s won, six out of 10 years; he’s had a winning record. So, I mean, Torey’s done a great job for us, and he continues to.”

Arizona Sports’ Damon Allred contributed to this story. 

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