Dodgers Respond to New Rule, Reassign Coaches Mota, Ferguson

The Dodgers have announced their response to an impending baseball rule that would limit teams to five coaches by reassigning batting and first base coach Manny Mota and dugout coach Joe Ferguson.

Mota will handle various special assignments throughout the organization, while Ferguson will simply move from the dugout to the press box, where he will resume his old job as the Dodgers eye in the sky, aligning Dodger defenses.

“Manny Mota is an important contributor to the Dodger organization and his new position will enable us to use his talents in several areas,” said Executive Vice President Fred Claire, who added that Ferguson will be working the defenses just as he did in the dugout, only he won’t be in uniform.

Batting coach Ben Hines is the likely replacement for Mota as the first base coach.

The Dodgers have also announced that longtime Cleveland Indian scout Gary Sutherland was joining the organization as a special assignment scout, replacing Steve Boros, who was recently named assistant minor league field coordinator.