At last Thursday’s press conference, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, Dodgers General Manager Farhan Zaidi and Don Mattingly all emphatically insisted that the decision that the Dodgers skipper would not be returning next season was “a mutually agreed upon decision” and that he absolutely wasn’t being fired. If this indeed was the case – and few actually bought it – Mattingly in essence failed to jump on the hand grenade to save the rest of his coaching staff.

After that fateful press conference in which it was announced that the five-year manager would not be returning for a sixth season, Friedman told reporters that the rest of the Dodgers coaching staff will more than likely also go down on Mattingly’s sinking ship – although he wouldn’t come right out and say it.

“We talked to them this morning. Obviously, we wish that we had more answers to provide but we don’t – this process is just getting underway,” Friedman said. “We told them they are free to look elsewhere.”

And while the Dodgers boss tried desperately to make it sound as though this was a gesture of good faith, if it isn’t a prequel to “your fired,” nothing is.

“To the extent that something lines up for [current coaches] and their family, we understand,” Friedman added. “To the extent that they’re still available when we hire a manager, that will be a conversation we’ll have with the new manager at that time.”

Although the Dodgers are keeping their search for a new manager very close to the vest, it’s hard to argue that current Dodgers Director of Player Development Gabe Kapler isn’t the front runner – he is, after all, a Friedman appointee. But regardless of who the Dodgers bring in as their new skipper, it only stands to reason that they will want to bring in their own coaching staff with them – or at least be permitted to have some say in the matter with Friedman and Zaidi.

Without question one of the biggest coaching decisions will be who will replace Rick Honeycutt as the Dodgers new pitching coach. “Honey” (as he is affectionately known) has been with the team since 2006 when former Dodgers GM Ned Colletti hired him to be Grady Little’s pitching coach. After serving under Little for two seasons, the 61-year-old Chattanooga, TN native stayed on as the Dodgers pitching coach for both of Joe Torre’s seasons as the Dodgers manager and all five of Mattingly’s.

By every indication, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt has already worn a Dodgers uniform for the last time. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Even though Honeycutt spent five seasons with the Dodgers from 1983-1987 (missing both of their ’80s World Series titles), he simply doesn’t figure in with the Friedman/Zaidi master plan of “getting younger.” As such, the former 21-year MLB veteran will probably not be brought back next season. It’s not that he isn’t a good pitching coach, it just seems that he might not be what the new Dodgers brain trust have in mind going forward.

So who do they have in mind, then?

Although Dodger fans would undoubtedly love to see Friedman and Zaidi bring in a guy like Greg Maddux or John Smotlz or Tom Glavine, the chances are far greater that they will bring in someone that one or the other know from their respective Tampa Bay/Oakland days – this just seems to be how they roll. But regardless of who they ultimately bring in, it’s probably a good bet that it will be someone much younger than Honeycutt and perhaps even younger than the 49-year-old Maddux and Glavine or 48-year-old Smoltz.

No matter who it is, the Dodgers would be best advised to fill all of the vacancies relatively soon, so that they can enter the Winter Meetings with a full head of steam. And who knows, maybe the Dodgers’ new pitching coach will have the same honor that Rick Honeycutt did.

…to coach Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke next season.