During a press conference to discuss parting with Don Mattingly as manager, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman confirmed coaches’ contracts expired at season’s end.
Friedman didn’t rule out any of the staff returning under the new manager in 2016, but also said they were free to seek employment with other clubs.
Thus far, only Davey Lopes has officially moved on, joining Dusty Baker’s Washington Nationals staff as first base coach.
Tim Wallach is expected to join Mattingly as the Miami Marlins’ bench coach, while Rick Honeycutt is likely to return with the Dodgers.
After it was reported one week ago hitting coach Mark McGwire was a candidate to join the Arizona Diamondbacks, that no longer appears to be the case, per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports:
The #Dbacks still searching for hitting coach as top candidates Mark McGwire and David Justice each opting to spend more time at home.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 18, 2015
Last season was McGwire’s third with the Dodgers, all of which have been as the club’s hitting coach. A a team the Dodgers hit .250/.326/.413 in 2015, with their batting average ranking 19th overall, on-base percentage fourth, and slugging percentage 10th.
They hit 187 home runs, which led the National League and was good for sixth in the Majors. Under McGwire in 2014, the Dodgers led the Majors with a .333 team on-base percentage and .286 batting average with runners in scoring position.
The Dodgers’ .322 wOBA last season led the NL and was fifth-best overall, and their 106 wRC+ trailed only the Toronto Blue Jays (117 wRC+) and San Francisco Giants (107 wRC+).
Moreover, Los Angeles led the Majors with a 9.2 percent walk rate and were 15th with a 20.7 percent strikeout rate.
Prior to joining the Dodgers, McGwire spent three seasons as hitting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. McGwire’s hiring in Los Angeles coincided with the Dodgers also adding John Valentin to the organization as assistant hitting coach.
There’s yet to be any public indication as to which way the Dodgers may be leaning as it relates to a decision on whether or not to retain McGwire.
