Dodgers continue to negotiate with Honeycutt

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are not confirming a report that pitching coach Rick Honeycutt has been re-signed to a two-year contract.

The club has been negotiating a multiyear deal with Honeycutt since the departure of manager Don Mattingly. CBS Sports reported that a deal was reached that would make Honeycutt one of the highest-paid coaches in the game at $750,000 annually.

The 61-year-old Honeycutt reportedly could have joined Mattingly's coaching staff with the Miami Marlins. But Honeycutt has been the Dodgers' pitching coach for 10 years, spanning the managerial tenures of Grady Little, Joe Torre and Mattingly.

Honeycutt's return would assure a degree of continuity for the next manager, whether he is one of the internal candidates -- Gabe Kapler, Ron Roenicke and Tim Wallach -- or an outsider. That rumored list includes varied candidates such as Dave Roberts, Darin Erstad, Kirk Gibson, Bob Geren and Dave Martinez.

In Honeycutt's time as the Dodgers' pitching coach, the staff has led the league in most critical pitching categories and he has overseen the progression of ace Clayton Kershaw, who has won three National League Cy Young Awards and an NL MVP Award. Honeycutt could have a fourth NL Cy Young Award win if Zack Greinke beats out Jake Arrieta of the Cubs.

From Mattingly's Dodgers staff, first-base coach Davey Lopes has been hired to coach first for Dusty Baker and the Washington Nationals. If Wallach does not get the Dodgers' managerial job, he is expected to join Mattingly in Miami.