The MLB has a group of new managers coming in to take over in 2016 and the last opening in baseball has been filled with the Los Angeles Dodgers hiring Dave Roberts. The other new hires for this season include Don Mattingly, Dusty Baker, Scott Servais and Andy Green for the Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.
Mattingly was with the Dodgers last season before parting ways and he was quickly snapped up by Miami. Dusty Baker is coming in to take over for Matt Williams in Washington, while the Padres and Mariners are hoping that Green and Servais can turn things around after disappointing seasons in San Diego and Seattle.
A quick ranking: 1. Dusty Baker, 2. Don Mattingly, 3. Dave Roberts, 4. Andy Green, 5. Scott Servais
Here is a look at the new managers:
Dusty Baker, Nationals
Baker has the most experience of any of the new managers and he has the chance to turn things around quickly in Washington. The Nats came into the season as one of the World Series favorites, but the team did not end up making the playoffs and now Baker has the chance to put his stamp on things. Matt Williams lost the clubhouse, but this team has talent with Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer and they should be a factor in the NL this year. Baker has decades of experience and over 1600 victories and that will serve him well here. Baker has previously brought the Giants, Cubs and Reds to the playoffs.
Don Mattingly, Marlins
Mattingly is going to have a tough task turning around things in Miami, but he comes in after a run of success in Los Angeles and he has the chance to take over for the Marlins. The situation in Miami is not the second best among these teams, the Dodgers are better off obviously, but Mattingly has experience and while he is not always considered to be the best game manager, he did a good job managing some wild personalities and situations in LA. With the reports so far in Miami about Jose Fernandez and other players, Mattingly may have some work to do already. Mattingly comes in after winning three straight division titles with the Dodgers.
Dave Roberts, Dodgers
Roberts was hired following a long search to replace Mattingly and he has a three year contract with Los Angeles, according to ESPN.com. Roberts will be officially introduced after the Thanksgiving weekend and he comes in after spending two years as the Padres bench coach. Roberts has experience there and also from his playing days with the Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.
Andy Green, Padres
Green was brought in to take over after the Padres made numerous moves this offseason that did not result in the team staying in playoff contention. Green comes over from the Diamondbacks and he has some previous managing experience from the minor leagues. Green had success while being a manager in the Arizona system and he has spent over a decade with the team. Green previously won manager of the year in the minors and he won a championship in 2012 while managing in the Pioneer League.
Scott Servais, Mariners
Servais comes in with the least experience of the bunch, but he has a long relationship with new Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto and that should help Dipoto run the team his way after dealing with manager issues with the Angels. Servais has front office experience while serving as the assistant GM for the Angels and he also spent time as the senior director of player development for the Rangers. Servais is a former player and Dipoto said that experience should help Servais manage the team.
