During his press conference to further explain the club’s mutual separation with Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said all coaching contracts expired at the end of the season.
Friedman didn’t rule out any of the staff returning once a new manager was in place, however understood if coaches were to pursue job security and employment elsewhere. Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach reportedly interviewed for managerial vacancies in Washington and San Diego, but wasn’t hired in either instance.
The Nationals reportedly will name Bud Black as their next manager, while the Padres introduced former Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green as their next skipper.
Friday brought news of the Dodgers’ reported interest in University of Nebraska head coach and former Angels outfielder Darin Erstad for the managerial position, and according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the Dodgers are negotiating with Rick Honeycutt to keep him as pitching coach:
The Dodgers are in talks to retain pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and also are interested in former Angels All-Star Darin Erstad for their manager job, according to baseball sources.
Talks are said to involve re-signing Honeycutt to a multiyear deal under the possibility he, like Mattingly, could be bound for Miami:
The 61-year-old Honeycutt and the club are working on a multiyear contract despite last week’s departure of manager Don Mattingly, who is about to be named manager of the Miami Marlins. Honeycutt apparently could join Mattingly in Miami.
Honeycutt has served as the Dodgers’ pitching coach for the last 10 seasons. Should he return with the club in 2016, he will have been a holdover under four managerial changes — previously coaching under Grady Little, Joe Torre and Mattingly.
The Dodgers pitching staff this season ranked fifth overall with a 3.46 ERA and third with a 1.18 WHIP. The Dodgers’ 23.5 strikeout percentage was good for third-best in the Majors.
Along with ushering along Clayton Kershaw, Honeycutt has been instrumental in the Dodgers’ taking reclamation projects and fostering success.
