Honeycutt uncertain of future with Dodgers

Honeycutt uncertain of future with Dodgers

Pitching coach joins free agents like Darvish, Granderson as offseason question

November 2nd, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have a handful of decisions regarding their free agents, including a decision that does not involve a player.
Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt's contract is up, and after the Dodgers lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Astros on Wednesday night, 5-1, he said he wasn't sure if he would return in that role next year, or possibly a consulting role.
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"I just want to take a couple days and get in touch and see what they're thinking and talk to my family and see what they're thinking," the 63-year-old Honeycutt said. "In a lot of ways, I never want to take off the uniform. I love what I do, love working with the guys. That part is always in you. I definitely enjoy all that. Parts of it you don't like, the travel and stuff. We'll talk. I'll consider it again. We'll see where everybody's at."
As for players, , , , , and Tony Watson are free agents, and they may have played their final games as Dodgers.
The club has a $17.5 million club option to keep , but almost certainly will buy him out for $2.5 million. The 35-year-old Ethier is the dean of the current club, but he projects as a part-time player coming off two seasons of serious injuries.
There's a club option of $8.5 million (or $1 million buyout) on second baseman that probably will be exercised.

As for Honeycutt, in his 12 years, the pitching staff has the best cumulative team ERA in the Major Leagues. In 2017, Los Angeles led the National League with a 3.38 team ERA, .228 opponents' batting average, 1.15 WHIP, 16 shutouts and 1,549 strikeouts, a franchise record.
Honeycutt has helped rebuild the bullpen around closer on the fly this season, with Morrow resurrecting his career, transitioning from starter and lefties Watson and Tony Cingrani joining in trades. Honeycutt has been coach for every pitch thrown in the Major Leagues, for three NL Cy Young Awards and an NL MVP Award.