Reports: Dodgers to name Dave Roberts manager.

Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts will be named the Dodgers’ next manager, according to multiple reports Sunday. (Associated Press photo)

Dave Roberts will be the Dodgers’ next manager, according to multiple reports Sunday night.

Roberts was the San Diego Padres’ first base coach from 2011-13 and their bench coach the last two seasons. He has never managed at any level.

As an outfielder, Roberts starred at UCLA before playing 10 major league seasons for five different teams from 1999-2008. He broke through as an everyday player after being traded to the Dodgers prior to the 2002 season, then was traded to the Boston Red Sox in July 2004. His stolen base in Game 4 of that year’s American League Championship Series lifted the Red Sox to victory and keyed their comeback in the series.

Roberts, whose father is African-American and mother is Japanese, would become the first minority manager in Dodgers history. The team has yet to make an official announcement, and Roberts isn’t expected to be introduced Monday. According to several reports Sunday, his contract has yet to be finalized.

The Dodgers parted ways with Don Mattingly on Oct. 22. The following week, Mattingly was named manager of the Miami Marlins.

Nine candidates reportedly interviewed the job over the next month: Roberts, farm director Gabe Kapler, third base coach Ron Roenicke, bench coach Tim Wallach, former Padres manager Bud Black, Mets bench coach Bob Geren, former Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson, Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez and University of Nebraska head coach Darin Erstad.

Kapler was considered the early favorite. Only he, Roberts and Black received second interviews. Neither Kapler nor Roberts have experience managing at the major league level, aside from Roberts’ one game as the Padres’ interim manager in June.

The Dodgers have had nine managers since moving to Los Angeles in 1958 — seven since Tommy Lasorda’s final game in 1996.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.