Now That Dave Roberts is in Place, What Coaching Pieces Will They Put Around Him?

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers formally announced Dave Roberts as their next manager during a press conference at Chavez Ravine on Tuesday morning. Roberts is the first domino to fall for the front office led by President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and General Manager Farhan Zaidi, but there are still many puzzle pieces left to put together.

Priority number one is to try and re-sign Zack Greinke who is reportedly choosing between the Dodgers and Giants. After that, it's time to put together a coaching staff around Roberts.

For that task, Friedman and Zaidi have surprisingly deferred to Roberts, a perennial bench coach himself who has had only one day of managerial experience in his career and never put together a staff before.

"Dave is by and large driving that process," Friedman said when asked who would be putting the coaching staff together. "We have input in that as far as guys we have encountered. We're on the same page with types of guys we want in that clubhouse."

So who is exactly are the types of guys that the Dodgers and Roberts want?

"Ideally its someone who has experience, either managing or extensive bench coaching," Friedman continued when pressed further.

For Roberts, his answer was simpler and matter of fact.

"I want teachers," the 43-year-old former player said. "I want teachers and leaders. I want guys around me that are going to challenge me and make me grow."

One of those guys might be Tim Wallach who served as bench coach under Don Mattingly last season. Wallach was a candidate for the Dodgers managerial vacancy, and is also rumored to be following Mattingly to Miami.

However, Wallach was born and raised in nearby Orange County, a place he still resides to this day. He has minor-league managerial experience, and was Roberts hitting coach in 2004 with the Dodgers before he was traded to the Red Sox.

Ideally, the Dodgers and Roberts would love Wallach to return in that role as both have history together and feel comfortable with each other. But, if Wallach feels burned by the team's decision to pass over him for skipper, then he could remain loyal to Mattingly and head for South Beach.

One thing for certain, is that the 2016 coaching staff will look drastically different than this season. First base coach Davey Lopes has signed with the Washington Nationals, third base coach Ron Roenicke travelled down the 5 freeway to Anaheim, Wallach might move to Miami, and hitting coach Mark McGwire is in discussions with the San Diego Padres to become their next bench coach.

That leaves pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, who could return to the team in the same role, and someone that Roberts would be in support of.

"Definitely Honey is in the mix," Roberts said when asked if he'd like Honeycutt as his pitching coach. "I think the world of Honeycutt. There's always a chance he might not be until things are finalized, but I think the world of him."

The Dodgers will fill in the blanks soon, but in the meantime, Roberts is looking to find trust among his staff and players.

"When the coaches are looking at the players, I want the players to know that the coaches are there to make them better, they can trust them and they can count on them. That's what I'm looking for in our staff."