Arizona Diamondbacks’ Kirk Gibson, Kevin Towers earn new contracts – MLB Update
While all eyes are focused on the free agent market, the Arizona Diamondbacks handed new contracts to manager Kirk Gibson and general manager Kevin Towers, both of whom teamed-up to give the franchise a rare successful season.
Derrick Hall, CEO of Diamondbacks, asserted that both minds were vital to the ballclub’s success in this past season and that he wants to see both of them work together for a longer period. Gibson and Towers were handed three-year contracts each, with club
options for two more years. This means that the D-backs can avail their services till 2014, at least. Hall furthered that a decision on the club options will have to be made by the end of 2013 so as to ensure stability in the affairs of the ballclub.
Commenting on the signings, Hall said, "I really enjoyed watching the two of them work together," Hall said. "Obviously I was pleased with the results from the first season. Kirk Gibson, in particular, proved that he is a major league manager, as prepared
as any I've ever seen, and I felt they were both worthy of extension."
2009 and 2010 saw the Diamondback lose over 90 games respectively, but the duo of Gibson and Towers led the D-backs to their first postseason in a long time ahead of reigning World Champions San Francisco Giants, winning 94 games in the regular season and
thus bagging the NL West crown. Although the team failed to counter the force of Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series, they made a statement and proved their mettle on the biggest stage of baseball.
Gibson has been central to the achievements of Arizona during 2011, injecting an aggressive mentality in his players and making them able enough to stage comebacks against the best on the circuit. The team was struggling in the first half of the season,
but resurgence after the All-Star break ensured them the top notch in NL West and effectively knocked the Giants out of postseason contention.
Towers, on the other hand, effectively utilised the ballclub resources and shaped a bull-pen that has now become a force to reckon.
With the team now on track, it will be interesting to see how the D-backs perform in 2012.
Tags: