The Arizona Diamondbacks gave manager Torey Lovullo a two-year contract extension through the 2021 season.
Lovullo, 53, was a coach for manager John Farrell in Toronto and Boston, then was hired as Arizona's manager in October 2016.
He was voted NL Manager of the Year in his first season after the Diamondbacks went 93-69. Arizona beat Colorado in the NL wild-card game, then was swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series.
Arizona dipped to 82-80 last year and failed to make the playoffs.
Lovullo has a .540 winning percentage in two seasons.
... Sandy Alderson is returning to the Athletics as a senior adviser to baseball operations after previously working 17 seasons with the club in various capacities. The 71-year-old led the A's when they won three straight AL pennants from 1988-90 and a sweep of the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. He was general manager between stints as team president from 1993-95 and 1997-98.
... Former Mets closer Jenrry Mejia, allowed back into baseball after a lifetime ban caused by three positive drug tests, agreed to a minor league contract with the Red Sox. If added to the 40-man roster, the 29-year-old Dominican righthander would receive a one-year contract at a rate of $625,000 while in the major leagues and $90,400 while in the minors. Mejia was suspended for life Feb. 12, 2016, after his third positive test for a banned steroid. Mejia is 9-14 with a 3.68 ERA in 18 starts and 95 relief appearances.
... Switch-hitting infielder Neil Walker agreed to a one-year contract with the Marlins. Last year, Walker hit .219 with 11 homers and 46 RBI in 113 games. Walker has a .268 career average and has reached double figures in homers every year since 2010.
