After a disappointing showing in the 2014 postseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers overhauled their front office and lured Andrew Friedman away from the Tampa Bay Rays by creating a president of baseball operations position.
Friedman has since rebuilt the farm system to annually being ranked among MLB’s best and all the while assembled a roster that’s boasted plenty of depth and lifted the Dodgers into World Series contention. However, after back-to-back appearances in the Fall Classic, they were eliminated in the National League Division Series this year.
That brought about plenty of public scrutiny and calls for the Dodgers to part with manager Dave Roberts and Friedman as well. Friedman put speculation to bed by announcing Roberts would remain manager, and additionally said his new contract with the Dodgers was merely a formality.
Several weeks have passed without the team announcing a new deal with Friedman. That’s not indicative of potential change, but still just a matter of finalizing the contract, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Still dotting I’s and crossing T’s. Friedman has been laid up with flu this past week. https://t.co/2OkNQRBOEi
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) November 10, 2019
A similar scenario unfolded last season as Roberts managed in the final year of his initial contract with the Dodgers. Extension talks were held during Spring Training but tabled once Opening Day rolled around in effort to keep the full focus on the 2018 season.
Roberts all the while maintained he was not concerned and fully expected to sign a new contract. That eventually came to fruition last December.
Friedman presumably could have his new agreement announced by the team early this week. The annual MLB General Manager meetings begin Monday, and considering the Dodgers don’t have the role formally filled, it stands to reason Friedman will lead their contingent.
Although the Dodgers have fallen short of ending their World Series drought under Friedman, his tenure has seen them extend a franchise record to seven consecutive National League West titles and accumulate the most wins since the start of the 2015 season.
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