Rockies manager could be new Diamondbacks skipper

If the Arizona Diamondbacks decide to fire manager Chip Hale between now and the start of the 2017 season, one possible candidate could be current Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss.

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Rockies are fading and general manager Jeff Bridich inherited Weiss, who is in the last year of his contract. Weiss also has connections with Diamondbacks’ chief baseball officer, Tony La Russa and general manager Dave Stewart. Weiss played for La Russa in Oakland and was a teammate of Stewart’s.

Rosenthal also said that the Diamondbacks were ready to fire Hale, but that ownership intervened. However, La Russa told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Doug and Wolf on Wednesday that was not the case.

“The stuff about Chip is just not true. We were very concerned, and I think it was a very strong message sent by Dave Stewart to Chip that, look, there’s an urgency that has to be apparent in the way we compete. You lose that, then that’s not acceptable,” La Russa said.

Nevertheless, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Hale this season. After coming off an impressive 79-83 record in his first year, Hale inherited a ballclub in 2016 with high expectations after signing free agent Zack Greinke, and trading for starting pitcher Shelby Miller. Instead, the Diamondbacks are 54-75 through 129 games and are on pace to lose 94 games. Meanwhile, Greinke is 11-4 with a 4.29 ERA after spending time on the disabled list and Miller has struggled all season and is currently pitching for Triple-A Reno.