Greg Maddux finished off the Dodgers NLDS Game 1 victory at Chicago on October 1, 2008. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Raul Ibanez wrapped up his MLB career with Kansas City in 2014. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
By Jon Weisman
For the third time, Greg Maddux is a Dodger.
The Hall of Famer and two-time Dodger pitcher, as well as 19-year MLB veteran Raul Ibanez, have been hired as special assistants to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and the entire department.
In their roles, Maddux and Ibañez will assist in all aspects of baseball operations, including scouting, player development and working with the club’s players, both at the Major and minor league levels.
For the past four seasons, Maddux has been a special assistant to Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, after having been in a similar role for the Cubs and GM Jim Hendry. He was also pitching coach for Team USA during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Maddux, who unbelievably turns 50 in April, pitched 114 1/3 of his 5,008 1/3 career innings with the Dodgers, combining 2006 and 2008 stints into a 3.94 ERA. As an Atlanta Brave, he was the last pitcher to win four National League ERA titles (1993-95, 1998) until Clayton Kershaw matched him from 2011-14.
The 43-year-old Ibanez played his final big-league game in September 2014, completing his 2,161-game MLB career with 305 home runs, hitting as many as 34 in 2009 for Philadelphia.
D.a. Collins
Can we maybe hire some personnel that can get a few outs in the bullpen?
throwdeuce
Jansen, Hatcher, Garcia, Howell, Availan, Baez, and Blanton should be just fine.
Robert J. Carmack
I say it again, This new FO is not about being WS Champs but a profit center only, they over-seeing their inheirited budget payroll but so-far is an “Fail” grade in my book as helping Dodgers Win WS. Don’t like the signings, Don’t like our BULLPEN Yet, Maybe my fellow LA Fan can relate to my Frustrations as WE have become the “CAL WORTHINGTON of ML Baseball.. a bunch of used baseball players with high milage and a new paint job” .. Our lineup still lacks a legitimate Slugger from Right side.. FO Could do better If They wanted to..Booooooooooooooooo! Hisssssssssssss!! Lol!!
throwdeuce
Im frustrated for it taken 27 years to be in a World Series, but I believe this front office has made this a better chance for years to come. I’ll admit they don’t look as good in 2016 as last 3 years in some areas, but overall they are better in pitching, depth, and minor leagues.
dodgeropinion
log off.
Sherri Hoffman
Just how big is “the front office”?? Pretty soon staff meetings are going to have to take place in the stadium instead of an office. Between all of the special assistants and general managers (most with different titles), it seems nobody can actually do the job for which they were hired, so they are splitting the responsiblities (and I’m sure NOT the paychecks). I guess this is why prices keep rising. I don’t mind paying a reasonable price for what’s on the filed, but I don’t want to pay for inefficient management in the front office.
oldbrooklynfan
I’m remembering Ibanez’ as a Phillie and as a Yankee. As of the moment.