In addition to four players becoming free agents at the conclusion of the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers were left with a sizable hole to fill in their coaching staff.
Longtime pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was stepping down from the position due to lingering back issues and transitioning to a special assistant role in the front office.
All signs pointed to Mark Prior being named Honeycutt’s successor after spending the previous two seasons serving as Dodgers bullpen coach. A contract was reportedly being finalized at the end of October, though an official announce has yet to be made.
When speaking to reporters on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings in San Diego, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman confirmed that Prior will handle pitching coach duties going forward.
Friedman additionally revealed that Josh Bard has returned to the organization and will replace Prior as bullpen coach, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Friedman confirmed that Mark Prior, the club’s bullpen coach for the last two seasons, will replace Rick Honeycutt as the Major League pitching coach. … In addition, Prior will be replaced as bullpen coach by Josh Bard, who Prior replaced as bullpen coach two years ago when Bard became bench coach of the Yankees.
Bard most recently served as the New York Yankees bench coach during the 2018-19 seasons. Before that he spent five years with the Dodgers organization, working as a special assistant to the front office in 2013, a professional scout in 2014 and 2015, then as the bullpen coach for the Major League team in 2016 and 2017.
Bard’s career also includes serving as bench coach for New Zealand’s World Baseball Classic qualifier team in February 2016.
With the 2020 coaching staff essentially finalized, Friedman can now focus on improving the Dodgers roster through free agent signings and trades. The club has been linked to some of the biggest names available, including Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon.
Friedman noted that he is focused on 12 specific players, though it remains to be seen which of his targets will ultimately join the organization.
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