Diamondbacks manager Lovullo gets two-year extension

The Arizona Diamondbacks and manager Torey Lovullo agreed to a two-year contract extension on Tuesday. Lovullo's deal now runs through the 2021 campaign. USA Today reported last season that Lovullo had one of the lowest salaries for a manager at $900,000.

"Torey's leadership and ability to connect with people, specifically our players and coaches, provides the foundation for the culture we continue to cultivate and grow in Arizona," Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said in a news release announcing the extension. "This is an exciting day for Torey, his family and the D-backs. We can't wait to get started at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in two weeks." Lovullo, 53, is entering his third season with the club and has a 175-149 mark.

Lovullo was named National League Manager of the Year in 2017 after guiding Arizona to a 93-69 record and a wild-card victory before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series. Last season, the Diamondbacks went 82-80 and collapsed down the stretch. The team was 15 games over .500 on Aug. 22 before going 11-24 the rest of the way to fall out of playoff contention.

Arizona underwent some big changes in the offseason by trading longtime face of the franchise Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals and losing left-hander Patrick Corbin (Washington Nationals) and center fielder A.J. Pollock (Los Angeles Dodgers) as free agents. --Field Level Media