Dodgers Rehire Coaching Staff; Benzinger Isn’t Offered Contract

The Dodgers rehired their coaching staff Friday but said they would not offer a contract to Todd Benzinger, an infielder-outfielder who becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Returning are Mark Cresse, 41, as bullpen coach; Ron Perranoski, 56, as pitching coach; Joe Amalfitano, 58, third base coach; Joe Ferguson, 46, first base coach, and Ben Hines, 57, bench coach and hitting instructor.

Manny Mota, 54, will also return as an assistant batting instructor. This will mark Mota’s 24th season with the Dodgers--11 as a player--and his 36th season in baseball. Ron Roenicke, 36, will return to position the Dodger fielders.

Benzinger, 29, was traded to the Dodgers by Kansas City in December of 1991 for Chris Gwynn and minor leaguer Domingo Mota, Manny Mota’s son. A former first baseman for Boston and Cincinnati, Benzinger was most effective with the Dodgers as a pinch-hitter. Last season, Benzinger, 29, played in 121 games and batted .239 with four home runs--he had the club’s only two grand slams--and 31 runs batted in.