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The Dodgers have talked with Don Mattingly about extending his contract beyond the 2014 season, per reports from both Ramona Shelburne of ESPN LA and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
"No deal is imminent, but there is optimism on both sides that a new deal will be completed," wrote Shelburne.
Mattingly's club option for 2014 vested when the Dodgers beat the Braves in the NLDS, but he vented at the season ending press conference at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 21 about his lame duck status, something that is quite rare for a manager to go through two years in a row.
Gurnick clarified a bit:
Implying he might not return was not a veiled threat by Mattingly that he would quit, but rather a way of addressing the uncertainty over whether the club would dismiss him because he has sought a multiyear contract, according to a baseball source.
The last few days have been busy, so here is a quick attempt to catch up on other Dodgers news:
- Clayton Kershaw is also a candidate for an extension from the Dodgers this winter, but in case they can't come to an agreement by January 14 he will file for salary arbitration. Matt Swartz at MLB Trade Rumors went into detail on Thursday in his reasoning for predicting an $18.15 million salary in 2014 for Kershaw.
- Unlike Mattingly and Kershaw, Ricky Nolasco is not bound to the Dodgers in 2014. Nolasco, a free agent, is reportedly seeking a five-year deal worth $80 million, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
- Juan Uribe was named the Dodgers' Wilson Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday. Gerardo Parra won top overall defender honors in the NL, while Dustin Pedroia won AL top honors.
- Charley Steiner will be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame on Saturday. The 21st annual awards gala in Chicago will be hosted by Larry King.
- J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News wrote about the Dodgers front office and their strategy for player development.
- Daniel Russell of DRays Bay wrote a series of posts trying to measure the interest around baseball in David Price. Thursday's piece includes talk of Price to the Dodgers, in which I answered a few questions.
- Remember that reckless driving charge for Yasiel Puig in April in Tennessee? The case was dismissed thanks largely to Puig's community service work already performed, per Hollie Webb of the Tennessee Chattanoogan.
- The Dodgers have reportedly hired longtime White Sox scout Gary Pellant, per Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.
- Bernie Pleskoff of MLB.com wrote a glowing scouting report of prospect Corey Seager on Wednesday, including this video: