Gibson, Dipoto to stay in Arizona

By foxsports
Published

Kirk Gibson is going to get a shot at managing the Arizona Diamondbacks for a full season.

Hired as the interim manager after a midseason shake-up, Gibson was given the permanent job on Monday, signing a two-year deal with a team option for 2013. Interim general manager Jerry Dipoto also will remain with the club as vice president of scouting and player development.

A fiery former player, Gibson was promoted from bench coach when the Diamondbacks fired manager A.J. Hinch and GM Josh Byrnes on July 2.

Gibson didn't lead any dramatic turnaround - Arizona was last in the NL West at 65-97 - but did change the sometimes laid-back attitude in the clubhouse.

New GM Kevin Towers said when he was hired that Gibson probably deserved a chance to lead the team from the start of the season.

Towers and Gibson also shook up the coaching staff, moving third base coach Joel Youngblood to a position within the minor league system and offering pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. an opportunity to remain with the organization in a different capacity.

Hitting coach Jack Howell and bench coach Bo Porter were not retained, leaving first base coach Matt Williams and bullpen coach Glenn Sherlock as the only holdovers.