The Los Angeles Dodgers have already been busy on multiple fronts this offseason, reaching new agreements with David Freese and Clayton Kershaw as well as extending qualifying offers to both Yasmani Grandal and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
While it figures to be a busy winter for the club in terms of roster construction, Los Angeles will also be tasked with overhauling their coaching staff and potentially filling a void in the front office in the wake of multiple departures since the World Series concluded.
Former third base coach Chris Woodward was hired by the Texas Rangers to become their new manager, while hitting coach Turner Ward accepted the same position with the Cincinnati Reds to be closer to his family.
When speaking to reporters at the annual general manager meetings, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman additionally announced that game-planning/communications coach Danny Lehman will not reprise his positions for the 2019 season, via Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
Already with two holes to fill on the coaching staff, Friedman also revealed game-planning/communications coach Danny Lehmann will not return in 2019.
Along with bullpen coach Mark Prior, Lehmann was one of two newcomers to the Dodgers coaching staff in 2018.
Prior to his promotion, Lehmann was the Dodgers’ advance video scout from 2015-17. Last season, he was responsible for combining the game planning and positioning knowledge with more on-field and in-the-dugout responsibilities, including both pre-game and in-game work.
While the Dodgers face turnover on their coaching staff and front office, they will retain manager Dave Roberts for the 2019 season after exercising his club option.
Friedman intends to hammer out a long-term agreement with Roberts at some point this offseason, but admitted those talks have been put on hold while he looks to fill out the rest of the Dodgers’ 2019 coaching staff.
