Now that two teams have ascended to the ranks of League Champions I thought that I’d take a look at each club’s organizational makeup and roster builds. Baseball is a copycat industry so it’s likely that the way these clubs are presently formed becomes or continues as a trend for others to follow.
Previously I detailed the Tampa Bay Rays ... here’s a look at the National League Champions Los Angeles Dodgers ... gives me stuff to do 🤪🤓✍️.
Los Angeles Dodgers - National League Champions :
43-17. Regular season ... 9-3 Postseason
Owner : Guggenheim Baseball Management ( Mark Walter - Chairman, Magic Johnson, Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton Jr, Peter Guber, Billie Jean King, Ilana Klos, Robert Plummer and Alan Smolinksy )
Year Purchased : 2012 ( $ 2 Billion )
Franchise Worth : $ 3.4 Billion according to Forbes ( April,2020 ) ... in a normal season - $556 million Revenue including $ 185 million from gate receipts ... $ 217 million in player expenses ... $ 96 million operating income ... 13.1 million metro area population ... debt to worth % - 12 %
Baseball Operations Front Office :
President - Baseball Operations : Andrew Friedman ( 43 years old )
Sixth year on the job after being named to the position in October, 2014. Formerly Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations with Tampa Rays for nine seasons ( 2006 - 2014 ). Prior to Baseball was an Analyst with a NY Investment firm for two years and spent three years as an associate for a private equity firm. A Graduate of Tulane University with a degree in Finance.
Senior Vice President - Baseball Operations : Josh Byrnes ( 50 years old )
Sixth year with the Dodgers overseeing scouting and player development ... hired in November of 2014. Was previously VP/General Manager of the Diamondbacks ( 2006-2010 ) and Padres ( 2011-2014). Began front office career in 1994 with Indians as an advance scout ... was Assistant GM for Rockies ( 1999-2002 ) and Red Sox ( 2003-2005 ). Is a graduate of Haverford College in PA.
Vice President and Assistant General Manager : Brandon Gomes ( 35 years old )
Fourth year with Dodgers and second season in this position. He joined the Dodgers in 2017 as Pitching Performance Coordinator and then served as Director of Player Development in 2018. Pitched in five Major League seasons ( 2011-2016 ) with the Tampa Rays appearing in 173 games. Graduate of Tulane University with a double Major in Finance and Legal Studies.
Vice President and Assistant General Manager : Jeff Kingston ( 42 years old )
Second year with the Dodgers after nine seasons with the Seattle Mariners serving as Assistant GM ... promoted to Vice President of Baseball Operations in 2016. He oversaw Baseball Analytics and player development for the Mariners. Worked previously for the Padres ( 2001-2009 ) as both Assistant Director of Player Development and Director ( promoted to that role in 2002 ). He’s a graduate of Dickinson College in PA with a degree in Economics.
Vice President - Amateur Scouting : Billy Gasparino ( 43 years old )
Sixth season with the Dodgers and first as a VP ... previous title was Director of Amateur Scouting ... he has overseen the Dodgers drafts since 2015. Previously worked for the Padres ( 2012-2014 ) as Director of Scouting and National Cross Checker ( 2010-2012 ). Prior to that he was an area scout and cross checker with the Blue Jays ( 2004-2009 ) ... started as an Intern with the Indians in 2003. Played one season of minor league baseball in the Rockies system ... graduate of Oklahoma State University.
Manager and Primary Coaches :
Manager : Dave Roberts ( 48 years old )
Fifth season as Manager of the Dodgers - three National League pennants. Played in the Major Leagues for parts of ten seasons ( 1999 - 2008 ) with five organizations appearing in 832 games. Was a big league coach with the Padres from 2011 to 2015 before becoming Manager of the Dodgers.
Bench Coach : Bob Geren ( 59 years old )
Fifth season as Dodgers Bench Coach. Served as Mets Bench Coach from 2012-2015 and as Manager of the Oakland A’s from 2007-2011 ( dismissed in June ). Prior to that he spent 13 seasons with the A’s ... MLB Bullpen Coach ( 2003-2005 ) and Bench Coach ( 2006 ) and nine years in the Minors as a Manager. He also managed in the Red Sox minor league system at various levels. Played parts of five seasons in the major leagues as a catcher and 15 years total as a professional player after being drafted by the Padres in 1979.
Hitting Coach : Brant Brown ( 49 years old )
First season as Dodgers co-hitting Coach. Was “Hitting Strategist” and Assistant Hitting Coach in 2018 and 2019. Prior to joining the Dodgers was Mariners Offensive Coordinator from 2016 to 2017 and Minor League Outfield Coordinator from 2013 to 2015. He served six seasons as a hitting coach in the Texas Rangers organization before that. He played parts of five big league seasons with the Cubs, Pirates and Marlins appearing in 424 games from 1996 to 2000.
Hitting Coach : Robert Van Scoyoc ( 32 years old )
Second year as Dodgers co-hitting Coach. Was a hitting strategist for the Diamondbacks in 2018 after being a hitting consultant with the Dodgers from 2016 to 2017. He has been a private hitting instructor for pro players since 2011. Never played professional baseball ... played two seasons as an outfielder at Cuesta College in San Diego ( 2006-2007).
Pitching Coach : Mark Prior ( 40 years old )
First season as Dodgers Pitching Coach. Was Bullpen Coach from 2018-2019. Was previously Padres Baseball Operations Assistant in 2014 and then their Minor League Pitching Coordinator from 2015 to 2017. He pitched five seasons in the big leagues with the Cubs ( 2002-2006 ) after being selected in the first round of the 2001 draft.
28 Man Initial Playoff Roster Makeup :
Acquired in Trade : 7
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed : 14
Free Agent Signing : 6
Signed off Waivers : 1
50 % of the roster developed internally
25 % acquired via trade
25 % acquired via free agency/waiver claims
Tenure :
Clayton Kershaw - drafted and signed 2006
Pedro Baez - signed 2007
Kenley Jansen - signed 2009
Joc Pederson - drafted and signed 2010
Corey Seager - drafted and signed 2012
Victor Gonzalez - signed 2012
Julio Urias - signed 2012
Cody Bellinger - drafted and signed 2014
Matt Beaty - drafted and signed 2015
Minor League Winning Culture :
2017 : Third Overall with a .546 winning percentage and four playoff teams including one league champion and one runner up
2018 : Third Overall with a .552 winning percentage and six playoff teams including three league champions
2019 : Second Overall with a .562 winning percentage and five playoff teams including two that reached league championship series before losing
Minor league Major League Debuts :
2016 : 8 - Julio Urias only one who remains on 40 man roster
2017 : 8 - Cody Bellinger and Walker Buehler remain on 40 man roster
2018 : 2 - both ( Caleb Ferguson and Dennis Santana ) remain on 40 man roster
2019 : 8 - seven ( Will Smith, Josh Sborz, Edwin Rios, Dustin May, Gavin Lux, Tony Gonsolin and Matt Beatty ) remain on 40 man roster
2020 : 2 - Kelbert Ruiz and Zach McKinstry
It Takes an Army ( Number of Players Used ( played in games ) on MLB Roster )
2016 : 55 ( 31 pitchers and 24 position players )
2017 : 52 ( 26 pitchers and 26 position players )
2018 : 53 ( 31 pitchers and 22 position players )
2019 : 47 ( 25 pitchers and 22 position players )
2020 : 38 ( 21 pitchers and 17 position players )
The Dodgers certainly spend a lot of money but also are excellent at internal development ... those two things aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. Another way to climb to the top. 🧐
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️