After the Los Angeles Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly mutually agreed to part ways, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and his front office conducted a thorough search for the team’s next manager.
An estimated 10 candidates were interviewed before a handful were brought back for a second round of interviews.
The Dodgers eventually narrowed their list of finalists to team director of player development Gabe Kapler and former San Diego Padres manager bench coach Dave Roberts.
Los Angeles formally announced the hire of Roberts on Monday, which came as a mild surprise.
Despite not getting the job, Kapler expressed his approval with the hire on his Twitter account by posting a hand-written note praising his former Boston Red Sox teammate who he won a World Series with in 2004:
Dave Roberts is an exceptional individual. pic.twitter.com/3hx6FpFmF1
— gabe kapler (@gabekapler) November 23, 2015
Kapler was considered by many as the favorite for the job, as he has a strong relationship with Friedman that date backs to their time with the Tampa Bay Rays. Kapler, like Roberts, does not have managerial experience in the Majors.
Whether or not Kapler will remain in the organization’s front office or join Roberts in the dugout as a bench coach still remains in question.
