PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing back manager Torey Lovullo for two more seasons, giving him another shot at a World Series run, the team confirmed to Arizona’s Family.
The Diamondbacks have extended Lovullo on a two-year contract, which coincides with general manager Mike Hazen’s deal. Lovullo’s contract was set to expire at the end of the 2026 season.
Lovullo said he needed several days away from questions and the noise surrounding his future before talking through his return with the organization.
“I took Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday to just answer zero questions,” he said. “My main objective was just hang loose, go radio silent.”
Lovullo said he used the brief break to decompress after Arizona missed the playoffs, then spoke with Hazen and other team decision-makers. He said he was “relieved and grateful and excited” once the agreement was complete.
Lovullo has led the Diamondbacks to one World Series appearance and two playoff runs during his decade-long tenure. After the Snakes’ 2023 World Series run, he signed a three-year extension.
Not winning enough?
In his first season at the helm in 2017, Arizona finished with an impressive 93-69 record and made a playoff run, but was swept by the rival Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
Despite missing the playoffs eight of the last nine years, Lovullo is the winningest manager in D-backs history with a 750-768 record, surpassing Kirk Gibson.
But for Lovullo, he said he wants to win a championship every year.
We don’t get an award for coming close. We get a trophy for winning the World Series,” he said.
Lovullo said the Diamondbacks have built teams capable of hovering around the mid-80s in wins but still miss the playoffs. He said the next step is finding the consistency and detail needed to become a 95-win contender. He said championships are won through preparation and “the small details.”
Responding to the critics
Lovullo said he is blocking out the naysayers and focusing on demonstrating excellence to the organization and getting to the World Series.
“I don’t give two [expletives] about what some of those people are saying. I care mostly about impressing (Diamondbacks owner) Ken (Kendrick), (Diamondbacks president) Derrick (Hall) and Mike every single day,” he said.
Lovullo said his desire to feel “wanted” was directed more toward the organization’s leadership than outside criticism.
“I know that some people in this town want me out, and I get it. But I have a job to do here, and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability,” he said.
Heartbreaking ends to last 3 seasons
2026 is the third consecutive season since the miraculous World Series run where the Snakes have just missed the playoffs. The Diamondbacks have tried to replicate the championship run, but have come up shy due to injuries, pitching issues and off-the-field troubles.
In 2024, the Diamondbacks lost four of their last six games in the final week of the season, finishing in a three-way tie with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets at 89 wins. The Snakes became the first World Series runner-ups to miss the following postseason since the 2009 Tampa Bay Rays.
Then in 2025, the Diamondbacks went through a massive overhaul and traded away several veteran players, including Josh Naylor, Randal Grichuk, Jordan Montgomery, Shelby Miller, Merrill Kelly and Eugenio Suarez. Injuries plagued the Snakes’ pitching rotation, with the team losing Corbin Burnes, A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez to Tommy John surgery.
The team finished just under .500 with an 80-82 record. Though the team tried to make a late-season push for a Wild Card spot, they lost five of their last six games, including a disappointing sweep to the San Diego Padres to close out the season.
It came down to Game 162 this year, with the Diamondbacks and Phillies battling for the final NL Wild Card spot. After losing 10-7 on Saturday to the Padres, the Diamondbacks needed to win Sunday’s game, but Philly also had to lose for the Snakes to punch their ticket into the postseason.
However, the Phillies’ 7-3 win over the Rays was the final nail in the coffin of the team’s playoff dreams.
Despite the postseason misses, the Diamondbacks finished six seasons over .500 under Lovullo.
Arizona finished third in the NL West with an 86-76 record.
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