New Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Freidman was introduced Friday, but he "remained as much of a mystery as some of the advanced metrics used by the overachieving" Rays in his time as their GM, according to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. TIMES. Friedman offered "little insight into how his trademark small-market principles would be used to more efficiently operate a big-market franchise." While "acknowledging the necessity of signing star-caliber players to long-term contracts in one breath, he preached financial restraint in the next." Friedman: "When you're solving for talent, having star players is a critical part of having success. That being said, it's really important to do as much as you can to put yourself in the position to pay for what a player will do, not necessarily for what they have done." Friedman "wouldn't say whether the Dodgers would decrease their payroll," which was a record $240M this year. Though Friedman "worked with great autonomy" in Tampa, he said that he "didn't envision any problems working under a hands-on executive" such as Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten. Friedman does not think that the Dodgers' "marketing concerns would influence whether he could make certain player-personnel moves." Meanwhile, Friedman on confirmed Don Mattingly "would manage the team next season" and that a GM would be hired (L.A. TIMES, 10/18). In L.A., Steve Dilbeck wrote Friedman showed up and "came across pretty much as expected -- bright, embracing numbers, likable, all humble, and about as forthcoming as J.D. Salinger." He "seems polite, confident, very careful." Dilbeck: "Not the socially awkward type like the Dodgers' last sabermetics guy, Paul DePodesta" (L.A. TIMES, 10/18). Meanwhile, ESPN L.A.'s Mark Saxon cited sources as saying that Friedman "has spoken" to former Padres GM Josh Byrnes about the Dodgers' opening. But Friedman said that he "isn't ready to announce who his GM will be or how the duties will be split" (ESPNLA.com, 10/17).
COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED? In Boston, Nick Cafardo writes if Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw "pitches to his capabilities" in the NLDS, "are we talking about Andrew Friedman replacing" former GM Ned Colletti? Maybe there were "discussions even prior to Kershaw’s problems, but how could the Dodgers replace their GM if they made the NLCS and maybe the World Series?" Cafardo: "If you’re Don Mattingly, you’d better have a good 2015 after Friedman said he’s sticking with you." Rays manager Joe Maddon is a free agent after '15, and if he "doesn’t sign an extension with Tampa, Maddon, a southern California resident, could go to LA and become the new Tom Lasorda" (
BOSTON GLOBE, 10/20).
