Derrick Hall: D-backs CBO Tony La Russa’s contract is up after 2016
Aug 16, 2016, 11:28 AM | Updated: 5:53 pm
Chief baseball officer for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Tony LaRussa, right, talks with pitching coach Mike Butcher, left, during a spring training baseball workout Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall confirmed Tuesday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that chief baseball officer Tony La Russa’s contract runs through the 2016 season.
On the Doug and Wolf show, Hall clarified his front office leader signed a three-year deal in May 2014 after La Russa told The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro that he did not know the details of his contract.
“It was a three-year deal that started in ’14. So ’14, ’15, ’16,” Hall said. “I remember at the time, Tony said, ‘Ah, it’s not even important for me to sign this. You know, I’ll work for your guys until you don’t want me.’ That’s sort of who he is.
“I knew he wouldn’t know when his contract is up because he doesn’t really care about the contract,” Hall added. “That’s not the type of person he is. He just wants to do a job and if he doesn’t feel like he’s doing it, or doesn’t feel like he has the confidence of others, he’ll step aside. He said that as a manager. He was a guy who was willing to work on one-year contracts, and if they gave him a multi-year contract, he just said, ‘hey, I’m just going to work until I’m not wanted here.’ ”
That means Arizona will be faced with decisions when it comes to their front office, which has made risky financial moves as well as trades that have been heavily criticized in the national media.
The Diamondbacks will have to make such decisions before the end of the year.
According to Piecoro and TodaysKnuckleBall.com’s Jack Magruder, the team has until Aug. 31 to pick up options on both the Stewart and Watson contracts. Stewart and Watson joined La Russa’s front office staff four months after he was hired.
