Bud Black is reportedly out of the running to be the Dodgers’ next manager, and Ron Roenicke won’t remain on the coaching staff.
Black, one of three finalists to replace Don Mattingly, is no longer under consideration according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. Black, 58, managed the San Diego Padres from 2007-15. He also was a finalist for the job in Washington that ultimately went to Dusty Baker.
If Black isn’t the Dodgers’ next manager, the job will go to a first-timer — either Gabe Kapler or Dave Roberts.
Black was the outlier in the final group of three, the only one with experience managing at the major-league level. That’s not inherently an advantage or a disadvantage. But if the front office had a specific vision for how it would work with the new manager, it made more sense for the choice to be between two candidates with no experience, rather than one rookie and one who had 8-plus years to form an idea of how to do the job.
Kapler, 40, has one year of experience as a field coach (he managed the Single-A Greenville Drive in 2007) and spent last year as the Dodgers’ director of player development.
Roberts, 42, has one year of experience in the Padres’ front office, three as first base coach, and the last two as bench coach.
Coincidentally, the two were teammates on the 2004 Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series.
If the Dodgers choose to pair either candidate with an experienced bench coach, it won’t be Roenicke. The Angels appointed him their third-base coach Wednesday, the same position he held with the Dodgers from August to October.
Roenicke was the Angels’ third base coach from 2000-05 and their bench coach from 2006-10. He also interviewed to replace Mattingly.
Update (2 p.m.): Black is apparently going back to Anaheim, too:
Source: Bud Black is rejoining the Angels, as well. He'll be in their front office, probably as a special assistant.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) November 18, 2015