The Arizona Diamondbacks have announced that Mel Stottlemyre Jr. will not return to the team in any capacity for the 2016 season. Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa said that Stottlemyre informed the organization that he wants to be closer to his father, Mel Stottlemyre Sr. in the Pacific Northwest as he battles cancer. LaRussa spoke to azcentral sports about the situation:
He’s been with us a long time and told us it was a dream situation be considered for the pitching coach job, but that his first priority is his dad and if he had an opportunity to be closer to his family that would be his preference.