The Arizona Diamondbacks have reportedly parted ways with pitching coach Brent Strom, assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson, and bullpen coach Mike Fetters, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In September, no team had a worse ERA than Arizona. Over the entire season, only the White Sox, Marlins, and Rockies had a worse ERA than the 89-win Diamondbacks. If not for the fact that Arizona’s offense led the league in runs scored, they would have been out of postseason contention by August.
The collapse of the pitching staff was surprising, especially considering the expectations heading into the season. Arizona made offseason acquisitions like Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery, but neither delivered the impact the team had hoped for.
The Diamondbacks’ last top-10 pitching staff dates back to 2018, highlighting the prolonged struggles on the mound.
Brent Strom, reportedly the most surprised by his dismissal, still had one year left on his contract. Strom, who joined the Diamondbacks in 2022 after a successful stint with the Houston Astros from 2014-2021, was instrumental in developing modern-day aces like Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, and Zack Greinke. After initially announcing his retirement in 2021, Strom joined Arizona with plans to settle into retirement but found himself back in the game.
At 75, Strom’s future remains uncertain. He told Jack Sommers of Arizona Diamondbacks SI, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and when it comes to the pitching, that’s me.” He also admitted that his relationships with some of the starting pitchers weren’t as strong as he would have liked this season.
Dan Carlson had been the Diamondbacks’ assistant pitching coach for three years, while Mike Fetters had been with the organization since 2012, serving in various roles as a scout and coach.
