Arizona Diamondbacks nearing decision on pitching coach

The Diamondbacks have narrowed their pool of candidates for their vacant pitching-coach position and appear to be leaning toward Mike Butcher, who spent the previous nine years as the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels.

However, Butcher has interviewed with multiple clubs for various positions and could have other job offers in hand, sources say.

The Diamondbacks are known to have interviewed six internal candidates plus at least four external coaches for the position, several of whom have been informed over the past two days that they will not be getting the position. The job is said to be going to an external candidate with experience in the role.

Butcher, a Valley resident, fits that description. He had served as the Angels’ pitching coach since the start of the 2007 season, taking over after Bud Black left to manage the San Diego Padres. During his first six seasons on the job, the Angels’ rotation ranked in the top five in the American League in ERA.

Butcher and hitting coach Don Baylor were fired two weeks ago in the first significant moves made by new Angels General Manager Billy Eppler.

The Diamondbacks are also known to have interviewed former Blue Jays pitching coach Bruce Walton; longtime pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, who spent the past three seasons with the Miami Marlins; and minor-league pitching coordinators Gil Patterson (New York Yankees) and Garvin Alston (Oakland Athletics).

The known internal candidates were Dan Carlson, Brad Arnsberg, Mike Parrott, Wellington Cepeda, Gil Heredia and Doug Bochtler.

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.