Gibson is a candidate for Dodgers’ managerial job
Kirk Gibson has emerged as a dark-horse candidate to become Dodgers manager.
Gibson, who hit one of the most famous home runs in franchise history, recently interviewed for the managerial position vacated by Don Mattingly, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke under the condition of anonymity because of the nature of the talks.
Gibson, 58, revealed this year that he has Parkinson’s. He has responded well enough to treatment to where he feels comfortable pursuing this opportunity.
Gibson became interim manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010. In his first full season as a manager the next season, Gibson led the Diamondbacks to the National League West title and was selected the league’s manager of the year.
Fired at the end of the 2014 season, Gibson compiled a record of 353-375 with the Diamondbacks.
Although Gibson became a reviled figure in the Dodgers clubhouse — the Dodgers had multiple on-field confrontations with the Diamondbacks while he was their manager — he will forever be remembered in Los Angeles for his pinch-hit walk-off home run against the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
The Dodgers went on to win the Series, four games to one. They have not won a Series since.
Gibson joins a list of candidates that also includes New York Mets bench coach Bob Geren.
The Mets announced that the Dodgers were granted permission to interview Geren, who managed the Oakland Athletics for four-plus seasons, his time with the organization overlapping with that of current Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi.
Other known candidates for the Dodgers managerial post include Gabe Kapler, Dave Roberts, Tim Wallach, Ron Roenicke, Darin Erstad and Bud Black.
Also, left-hander J.P. Howell will return to the Dodgers next season, said a person familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the transaction hasn’t been formally announced.
Howell, 32, could have become a free agent, but instead exercised his $6.25-million player option for 2016. He had a 1.43 earned-run average in 65 games in 2015.