Insider speculates Dodgers postseason failure could result in massive manager change

Last season, Dave Roberts became the fourth winningest manager and fourth longest-tenured in Dodgers franchise history, passing Leo Durocher's win record by eight games at the close of the regular season. Since Roberts took over the helm of the Dodgers ship from Don Mattingly in 2016, he's led LA to the most playoff appearances and wins of any manager. If he left tomorrow, the feather in his cap would be his 2020 World Series win, when the Dodgers beat the Rays in six games at a tragically empty Globe Life Field.

However, while the Dodgers have made the postseason every year Roberts has been managing, they've also developed a reputation for choking when they get there. This has been especially true in the past three seasons, when LA lost the NLCS to the Braves, and then two back-to-back DS'es to the Padres and Diamondbacks.

There's absolutely no doubt that Roberts is good at his job, but could the Dodgers explore other options if they flame out in the postseason again, despite the lineup that's been assembled?

Red Sox writer Chris Cotillo seems to think so. In an appearance on Foul Territory, he shortlisted the Dodgers, Yankees, and Phillies as potential landing spots for Boston manager Alex Cora, who likely isn't long for his post at Fenway.

Chris Cotillo lists LA as a potential future target for Red Sox manager Alex Cora if Dodgers fail in the postseason under Dave Roberts

It feels unlikely that the Dodgers would willingly let go of Roberts before he wants to retire. He's widely liked by his players, and despite the lack of overwhelming postseason success, he also hasn't had made so-bad-they've-gone-viral managerial decisions during the postseason (a la Kevin Cash taking Blake Snell out of the Rays' Game 6 in the World Series against the Dodgers, in a game LA would go on to win).

Cora and his time on the Red Sox, on the other hand, seems limited, as he's continued to disagree with Boston owner John Henry on how the team should be run. Cotillo also offered up the Yankees and Phillies as potential landing spots, the latter owing to Cora's good relationship with Philly's president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, but it's unlikely that the Yankees will be sending Aaron Boone packing anytime sooner either.

Dodgers shouldn't be afraid about losing Doc after this season, even if some might be calling for his head (again) if LA can't make a significant postseason run. Cora will surely end up somewhere if he leaves Boston, but it likely won't be with LA.