Diamondbacks hire Chip Hale as manager

The Diamondbacks are expected to announce former Mets third base coach Chip Hale as their new manager today. The two sides have agreed to a two-year contract.

This is a homecoming for the 49-year-old Hale. A University of Arizona alum, he began his coaching career in 2006 as the Triple-A manager in the Diamondbacks organization. He was the Mets' third base coach in 2009 under Jerry Manuel and was in consideration for the manager job in 2010 before the Mets decided to go with Terry Collins. Hale spent the past three years as the Athletics' bench coach.

Before signing with Arizona, Hale has been on the Twins' radar, as they are also looking to fill their manager vacancy. According to reports, Hale beat out former Rockies manager Jim Tracy, Indians' first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and two other internal candidates to become the Diamondbacks' manager. The Diamondbacks, of course, fired Kirk Gibson, who had held the job since taking over in 2010, following this season.