The Dodgers announced the rehiring of their entire coaching staff Monday, but nothing yet on a contract extension for manager Joe Torre, although talks will continue.
Returning are hitting coach Don Mattingly, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, third-base coach Larry Bowa, first-base coach Mariano Duncan, bench coach Bob Schaefer, bullpen coach Kenny Howell and hitting coaches Jeff Pentland and Manny Mota.
Mattingly remains the presumed heir apparent as Dodgers manager and recently turned down a chance to speak with the Washington Nationals about their vacant managing job.
However, his ascension to the top job apparently will wait awhile, as Torre and the club are in talks to extend the manager's employment at least one more year. At age 69, Torre is about to enter the third season of a three-year, $13 million deal.
Mattingly and Bowa came from New York with Torre, but originally received two-year deals. Schaefer had no previous ties to Torre when he was hired as bench coach.
Honeycutt, Duncan, Howell and Mota are all former Dodgers players who were either in their current roles or in other positions in the organization when Torre took over. Pentland was hired midway through the 2008 season.
Also expected to return are assistant coach Mark Sweeney and bullpen catchers Rob Flippo and Mike Borzello, but their deals were not confirmed. Flippo has been on the Dodgers staff since 2002 and Borzello came from the Yankees with Torre.
Don Mattingly
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt