The Miami Marlins formally introduced Don Mattingly as manager on Monday, inking the former Los Angeles Dodgers skipper to a four-year contract.
As managerial vacancies across the league were quickly filled, the Dodgers appear to be in the early stages of hiring Mattingly’s replacement.
The list of candidates is believed to include Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler, Chicago Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez, Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach and most recently, former Angels outfielder Darin Erstad entered the picture.
Of the group, Kapler is said to be the frontrunner. During his introductory press conference on Monday, Mattingly said he expects Wallach to join his staff in Miami as bench coach.
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, that will come to fruition should Wallach not be hired as the Dodgers next manager:
Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach will join new Marlins manager Don Mattingly in Miami if he doesn’t get the Dodgers manager job. Wallach confirmed what Mattingly revealed in his introductory press conference on Monday.
If passed over, it would be the third known time this winter Wallach wasn’t hired for a manager’s position. He interviewed with the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals, and in 2013, interviewed for managerial vacancies in Detroit and Seattle.
Wallach served as third base coach with the Dodgers from 2011-13, then was promoted to bench coach last season and held the same position in 2015. Thus far it’s only been reported pitching coach Rick Honeycutt is in talks to return next season.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Oct. 22 the coaching contracts expired once the season ended, but didn’t rule out any of the staff being retained once a new manager is in place.
