ESPN CONFIRMED: His efforts and dedication have taken him to another position; the head coach of Arizona Diamondbacks Torey Lovullo send a message to Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick concerning……..see more

ByShasha Banks November 6, 2025November 6, 2025

From Effort & Dedication to New Responsibilities

Torey Lovullo’s journey to his current role as the Diamondbacks’ manager is a reflection of hard work, resilience and steady progress. After serving as a bench coach for the Boston Red Sox during their 2013 World Series run, he joined Arizona’s organization and eventually became the head coach. His efforts helped the franchise rebuild culture and competitiveness..

In 2017, Lovullo led Arizona to an impressive 93-69 season and earned National League Manager of the Year in his debut season. He has established himself as the franchise’s longest-tenured manager.

The Message to Ownership

While there isn’t a publicly documented direct “message” from Lovullo to Ken Kendrick that is framed as something like a formal memo or letter, there is very strong evidence of communication, alignment and expectations set by Lovullo to his team and indirectly to ownership.

For example:

Lovullo revealed his message to the team after a disappointing season:

“When we come back next year, I just want you to know … we’re making the playoffs and if you’re not aligned with that I’m going to sniff you out and you’re not going to be here.” SI
This signals that Lovullo communicated clearly his vision and expectations for the club.
On the other side, Ken Kendrick publicly explained the decision to retain Lovullo for the 2026 season, noting that despite the team underperforming the expectations in 2025, Lovullo earned another year due to his leadership, ability to keep the club together during massive injuries, and the respect he commands in the clubhouse.
Earlier, Kendrick asked Lovullo for his input on a major free-agent signing of Corbin Burnes, asking Lovullo how he’d fit the clubhouse. Lovullo’s viewpoint was solicited by ownership.

So although the phrase “send a message to Ken Kendrick concerning …” is not verbatim from the sources, what is clear is that Lovullo holds ownership in his decision-making loop, and he is delivering strong internal messages (to players and staff) about direction — implicitly tying himself to ownership’s expectations.

What the Confirmed Sources Show

The Diamondbacks announced Lovullo will return as manager in 2026.
Ken Kendrick explained the rationale: injuries decimated the roster, but Lovullo kept the team together and maintained respect among the players.
Lovullo set a strong tone after being eliminated: he wants a playoff berth next season, and emphasized urgency, accountability and alignment. SI
Lovullo was involved in discussions about major roster moves (e.g., Burnes acquisition) when Kendrick brought him into the loop.

Why It Matters

Leadership continuity: In a sport where managerial turnover is common, the decision to keep Lovullo shows ownership’s trust in his leadership, despite a down year.
Culture & buy-in: Lovullo’s message to the team reveals that he demands alignment — players must be on board with the vision, or risk being replaced. That message cascades up to ownership: it shows that he is taking responsibility and expects ownership to support that vision.
Shared accountability: Kendrick’s comments highlight that the manager is evaluated not just on wins and losses, but on how well he galvanizes the club, especially under adversity (e.g., injuries). That implies Lovullo’s message to ownership is also: “I’ll lead this, but I need the backing and the talent to be successful.”
High expectations: The playoff goal is not optional. Lovullo made that clear to his players, ownership reaffirmed him, and so the message to Kendrick is: the time for just keeping pace is over — next step is competing.

What We Don’t Know

There is no publicly verified detailed message from Lovullo to Kendrick that addresses specific personnel, contract, budget or internal structure changes.
We don’t know how far his influence goes in front-office decisions (e.g., roster construction, draft decisions) beyond the anecdote of being consulted.
The precise details of any internal agreement between Lovullo, Kendrick and the front office for next season have not been made public yet.

In Summary

Torey Lovullo’s efforts and dedication have placed him in a stable position as the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks moving into 2026. His tone and public statements show that he has sent a clear internal message to the club — and by extension ownership — that the goal is to make the playoffs, instill urgency, and align fully behind success. Ken Kendrick’s comments reflect that he hears that message, respects Lovullo’s leadership, and is giving him the next season to fulfill it.