It is a classic line from the 1980 hit comedy The Blues Brothers:
On Friday evening, it was being widely reported that the Dodgers had reacquired former third base coach Chris Woodward to be their first base coach beginning in 2025.
This will be Woody’s second stint on the Dodgers coaching staff, having served as manager Dave Roberts‘ third base coach from 2016 through 2018, during which he helped the Dodgers reach the World Series in 2017 and 2018 before taking over as manager of the Texas Rangers in 2019.
Woody, as he is affectionately known, posted a less-than-stellar 211-287 record during his four seasons in Arlington before being dismissed on August 15, 2022.
“We are thrilled to have Chris Woodward back on the coaching staff,” Dodgers Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Gomes told reporters on Friday. “He has been a staple to this organization (as a senior advisor to Gomes), helping us to back-to-back NL pennants and was a key cog to our success last season. Chris will be an invaluable part to the team moving forward as he will take over base running and infield responsibilities while third base coach Dino Ebel will shift over to outfield duties, making for one of the most talented duos in all of baseball.”
Woodward fills the opening created after former first base coach Clayton McCullough was named manager of the Miami Marlins this past week.
But what makes Friday’s announcement even more significant (and as Dodgers fans painfully know all too well), extremely popular former Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager left the team as a free agent following the 2021 seasons to join Woodward in Texas.
Could this possibly mean that Seager might want to again follow Woodward?
(Ron Cervenka)
Although this certainly sounds enticing – even intoxicating – for Dodgers fans, it is extremely unlikely. The one-time most popular Dodger will be entering the third year of his enormous 10-year/$325 million contract with the Rangers in 2025, and what it would cost the Dodgers in players and money to get Rangers co-owner Ray Davis to even consider trading his future Hall of Famer in unimaginable.
…but you just never know.
Play Ball!
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