After joining Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on stage for Roberts’ introductory press conference, Friedman held court with several members of the media.
Among the topics he was questioned on was the Dodgers’ coaching staff and when hires would be made.
Friedman indicated the club hoped to have decisions finalized by the end of the week, which as of Wednesday, certainly appears to be more than possible.
Amid reports of the Dodgers adding New York Mets bench coach Bob Geren to their staff under the same capacity, Los Angeles has plucked Arizona Diamondbacks hitting coach Turner Ward, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney:
Sources: Turner Ward will be the Dodgers' new hitting coach.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 2, 2015
Ward spent eight seasons with the Diamondbacks organization. He was on the Major League staff the last three seasons, including 2014 and 2015 as hitting coach.
Last season Arizona ranked second in the National League in runs scored, second in slugging percentage and third in on-base percentage and OPS.
The Diamondbacks announced on Oct. 5 they extended Ward and other coaches a contract for 2016. However, he never signed the offer.
Ward replaces Mark McGwire, who appears bound for San Diego as the Padres’ bench coach under first-year manager Andy Green.
Ward may perhaps be remembered most for being punched by Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell and pushed over the railing along the camera well during the benches-clearing brawl in 2013.
The Dodgers are also expected to add team director of player development Gabe Kapler to Roberts’ staff. It was previously reported the Dodgers selected Neil Rampe, also of the Diamondbacks, to replace Stan Conte.
