The Los Angeles Dodgers is currently in the midst of looking for a new manager after they mutually parted ways with Don Mattingly. The Dodgers informed their coaches that they are free to explore opportunities from other teams, but it looks like they are keen on keeping coach Rick Honeycutt in their front office.
The long-time pitching coach is reportedly in talks on a multi-year deal to remain in Los Angeles' shuffle, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. Moreover, Los Angeles is also expected to interview former Angels pitcher Darin Erstad for their vacant managerial position.
News of Honeycutt's retention comes as the team commences its search for a new manager after they released Mattingly. However, this move is challenged by conflicting reports suggesting that Mattingly wants to bring Honeycutt with him in Miami. The former Dodgers manager is reportedly about to sign a four-year contract to manage the Miami Marlins. Aside from the pitching coach, Mattingly also wants bench coach Tim Wallach to join him.
The 61-year-old coach pitched in the big leagues for over two decades. He spent the past 15 years with the Dodgers, beginning as a minor league pitching consultant in 2001. From 2002 to 2005, he was a minor league pitching coordinator, eventually becoming the team's pitching coach in 2006. Before working with Mattingly, Honeycutt has been in Los Angeles for ten seasons and served as pitching coach under Joe Torre and Grady Little.
During his 10 seasons with the Dodgers, Honeycutt helped the team lead the MLB in ERA (3.66), FIP (3.70), xFIP (3.79), SIERA (3.76), strikeouts (12,605), strikeout rate (20.7 percent), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.55), K-BB% (12.6 percent), WHIP (1.269), and opponents batting average (.242), TrueBlueLA.com reports.
As mentioned, the Los Angeles Dodgers' quest for their next manager will include former Angels outfielder and current Cornhuskers head coach Darin Erstad. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources, which the Dodgers plan to interview Erstad this coming week.
Erstad, 41, has spent the last four years heading his alma mater's baseball team, the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. It was there that he played baseball and football before being chosen as the overall pick by the Angels in the 1995 draft. He participated in the first 11 of 14 Major League seasons with the Los Angeles Angels (then named California Angels), including the team's World Series championship team in 2002.
