Dodgers to name Dave Roberts as next manager

According to a report by Bill Shaikin, Dylan Hernandez, and Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers will name Dave Roberts as their new manager. CBSSports MLB insider Jon Heyman confirms the report and adds that Roberts will be announced as manager provided the deal is completed. Roberts had been a finalist for the job along with Dodgers Director of Player Development Gabe Kapler.

Roberts, 43, spent parts of the 10 seasons as an outfielder in the major leagues. He spent 2003 and part of 2004 with the Dodgers. Over the course of his career, Roberts established himself as a skilled defender and elite base-runner. Roberts’ most famous on-field moment came during Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, when he was a member of the Red Sox:

Since retiring as a player, Roberts has worked as an analyst, coach, and front-office exec. In 2014-15, he served as bench coach for the Padres.

If this indeed comes to pass, then Roberts will become the 32nd manager in franchise history and, as Ken Rosenthal notes, the first minority manager in Dodgers history.

After being eliminated in the NLDS round of the 2015 playoffs, the Dodgers, with a new, analytics-driven front office that may not have seen eye to eye with Don Mattingly, parted ways with Mattingly despite his leading the team to five straight winning seasons and three straight NL West titles. Mattingly has since become manager of the Marlins.

As for Roberts, he’ll inherit a 92-win team and a payroll that’s already in excess of $150 million for 2016. However, the Dodgers may be facing the free agent losses of NL Cy Young runner-up Zack Greinke and starting second baseman Howie Kendrick. Needless to say, Roberts will also be inheriting high expectations.

Dave Roberts is reportedly set to become the Dodgers’ new skipper. (USATSI)

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