The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced on Wednesday the hiring of Ron Roenicke as third base coach.
In corresponding moves, Gary DiSarcina moves from third base to first base coach, while Alfredo Griffin was named infield coach.
Roenicke becomes the second coach from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2015 staff who will not return with the club next season. He was fired May 4 as manager by the Milwaukee Brewers, who at the time had a league-worst 7-18 record.
Roenicke joined the Dodgers in August, replacing third base coach Lorenzo Bundy. With Roenicke’s addition, Bundy transitioned to a role as outfield coordinator for the Dodgers.
Following Don Mattingly’s split from the Dodgers, Davey Lopes was the first coach to depart — agreeing to become first base coach for Dusty Baker’s Washington Nationals staff two days after Baker was named manager.
With the Dodgers’ managerial search appearing to be in the final stages, coaching staff hires are likely to follow in the coming weeks.
Team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman stated on Oct. 22 the contracts of coaches on the 2015 staff expired once the season concluded.
Friedman left open the possibility for coaches to return next season, but added decisions on the staff would not be made prior to getting a new manager in place.
Given that he is unlikely to be hired as the Dodgers’ next manager, Tim Wallach is expected to reunite with Mattingly as the Miami Marlins’ bench coach.
For Roenicke it’s a return to the organization he was with from 2000-10 under manager Mike Scioscia. He joined the Angels as third base coach, then moved to bench coach in 2006 to replace Joe Maddon, who left for the managerial position with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Like Maddon, Roenicke departed the Angels staff in favor of a manager’s position (Brewers). Roenicke was among the initial candidates the Dodgers considered and interviewed as part of their search for Mattingly’s replacement.
Mark McGwire may be a candidate to also join the Angels, who are currently without a hitting coach after not renewing the contract of Don Baylor in October. McGwire was linked to the same position Arizona Diamondbacks, but is said to favor remaining close to his Orange County home.
