ARIZONA, USA — New Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria had options this offseason: Either go back and play with the Giants, or go play in the two places he had houses – Tampa Bay or Arizona.
The 3-time All-Star decided to come home, signing a 1-year deal with the D-backs. 37-years-old has never felt so young when you’re surrounded by some of the best young talents in baseball, but he didn’t come to the desert to retire.
“I feel like I can add a lot, especially the way I’ve come into this camp feeling good not only from a mentor, leadership role, but also on the field,” Longoria said. “I didn’t sign a contract here to be a coach or a manger or a mentor or anything like that.
“I came to put on the uniform and be between the lines as much as I can be and help this team win . My first focus is getting myself ready to play as many games as I’m asked to play and doing as much as I can to help this team win.”
Going on 16 big-league seasons, Longoria has plenty of baseball wisdom to share, and that mentorship is needed. D-backs manager Torey Lovullo noticed that was just what was missing from last year’s team: a guy to get everybody together away from the field.
“I explained to him some of the deficits we had with guys being able to corral the group, take them out to dinner,” Lovullo said. “It happens on this team, but he likes it to happen more often, and I do too. I think some of the things you do off the field build camaraderie and build that fellowship a little bit stronger.”
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