Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a good start.

I’ll get to the good news below, but of course, the Diamondbacks couldn’t get through the day without experiencing a few bumps. Yesterday’s 10-0 win over the White Sox cost the D-backs two more stars, as Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor both left the game with injuries. The former was hit by a pitch (X-rays were negative), while the latter left with right shoulder discomfort, and is listed as day-to-day.

The team announced after Monday’s game that Corbin Carroll will be placed on the IL after an MRI revealed a left wrist chip fracture, while Gabriel Moreno suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand on June 6 and is expected to be sidelined until the All-Star break.

Heal up soon, fellas. On to the show!

Diamondbacks Clear Huge Hurdle as Funding Bill Clears House

Sorry, Utah. You’re going to have to poach an MLB team from another market.

Baseball sure appears to be staying in The Valley.

The Arizona House of Representatives voted 35-20 yesterday to approve House Bill 2704, which “creates a funding mechanism for reconstructing, equipping, repairing, maintaining or improving the Major League Baseball facility owned and operated by the County Stadium District.”

In layman’s terms, the team got approval to use proceeds from sales tax generated at Chase Field to help fund much-needed renovations at Chase Field, to the tune of $500 million.

The bill still needs to be signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs, which is expected to happen.

I try not to venture into first-person writing very much, but this one was pretty darn personal with me. As the former Coyotes team reporter, I watched ownership flounder in its attempt to drum up support for the doomed Tempe Entertainment District. One season later, the team was gone, off to Utah.

So when the rumor mill started that there was potential for the team to be scooped up and relocated to Utah, you’ll forgive me if I was a bit triggered.

Go find your own baseball team, Utah.

Diamondbacks Will Also Contribute to Stadium Renovations

Stadium public funding bills are extremely polarizing among the general public. Supporters are happy to allocate tax funding to keep the top-tier team in town, while the opposition typically views the measure as handouts to billionaire owners.

That was the excuse I saw from detractors of the Coyotes’ proposed plan, though at their core the Diamondbacks’ success and the Coyotes’ failures were for very different reasons: The D-backs had a place the play — one that is owned by the county — and the Yotes did not even have a building to call a permanent home.

House Bill 2704 allocates up to $500 million from both site-generated sales tax and D-backs employee income tax, but the money is specifically dedicated for infrastructure improvements. The bill defines infrastructure as items related to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, building structure, building security, technology infrastructure and any spaces that are required for participation in Major League Baseball.

The bill also explicitly prohibits public funds from being used to renovate the pool suite, suites, or club seating, and would penalize the team for leaving, with steep fines associated to 2035, 2045, 2050, and 2055.

Also, for what it’s worth, the Diamondbacks have previously committed $250 million to renovations, as well.

Arizona’s current lease expires in 2027, and this milestone will go a long way in those negotiations.

Team President Derrick Hall’s Take (from a statement): “This will be a monumental victory for baseball and Diamondbacks fans when signed by Governor Katie Hobbs. We could then shift our focus to a proper lease extension negotiation with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in hopes of modernizing and renovating this public asset to a level those fans deserve.”

Yes He McCann: The Diamondbacks signed veteran catcher James McCann yesterday, giving the 35-year-old another chance in the Big Leagues. The 11-year vet has played for the Tigers, White Sox, Mets and Orioles, and was in Atlanta’s Minor League system before being signed by the D-backs. McCann was an All-Star in 2019, when he hit .273 with 18 home runs and 60 RBI.

Devilishly Happy: Congrats to former Sun Devils basketball product Lu Dort, who won an NBA title with the Thunder on Sunday! Dort became just the sixth player to win a championship at the highest level, joining (relatively) recent winners Jeff Prendergraph (2014 with Spurs) and Eddie House (2008 with Celtics).

Tommy Boy: Make sure to watch our exclusive interview with Wildcats basketball coach Tommy Lloyd, who discussed his approach to developing the roster for the U19 Team USA World Cup in Switzerland. He also touches on his personal dynamics with some of the best coaches in the country, along with how to get Arizona back to a Final Four and National Championship.

It’s Getting Drafty: The draft is TOMORROW!! Make sure to check out the NBA Diehard Draft Guide — Led by ALLCITY draft analysts Derek Bodner of PHLY and Will Gottlieb of CHGO, this guide is your one-stop-shop as teams across the league gear up to reshape their rosters!

Note the Diehard draft guide is best viewed on desktop or tablet!

Tip Of The Hat By Branded Bills

Congrats, Geno. Now get well soon.