Chip Hale Hired by D’Backs

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have hired Oakland Athletics bench coach Chip Hale

as their next manager.  He had been considered a candidate for the Minnesota Twins' open manager's job

The 49-year-old Hale will replace Kirk Gibson, who was fired with three games left in a disappointing 2014 season in which Arizona finished with the worst record in baseball.

Hale managed in Arizona's minor league system for six seasons and was the Diamondbacks' third base coach from 2007-09. He spent two seasons as the New York Mets' third base coach before serving as Bob Melvin's bench coach in Oakland the past three years.

Hale spent parts of seven seasons with Minnesota and the Los Angeles Dodgers during a 12-year playing career.