Hoffman Move Means Malone Has ‘I’ on Team

Kevin Malone, the Dodgers’ new general manager, announced Wednesday that Glenn Hoffman will no longer be the Dodgers’ manager--then said the demotion was not a reflection on Hoffman’s ability to manage.

Rather, Malone told reporters in a conference call, it’s simply time for the Dodgers to move on after a tumultuous season in which Hoffman replaced Bill Russell after Russell was fired on June 21.

“This organization needed to make a change,” said Malone, who assumed control of baseball operations three weeks ago. “We needed to go in a new direction. I’m new, we’re going to have some [other] new people in place, and I felt like a new manager was needed. . . .

“I need someone to manage that is a proven winner [and] is experienced. But more importantly, I need a manager that I can trust, that will be loyal to me [and] I can be loyal to in return--a manager that will be on the same page with me, a guy that I believe in.”

The identity of that person was not revealed Wednesday, but it’s no secret that Felipe Alou of the Montreal Expos is the top candidate on Malone’s list. The two are longtime friends who worked well together when Malone was the general manager in Montreal.

The Expos, however, have not yet given permission to the Dodgers to speak with Alou, who is high on the list of other clubs as well. He is the Colorado Rockies’ No. 2 candidate, and the Florida Marlins have expressed interest.

Alou has one year remaining on his contract at about $600,000. The Expos won’t keep him from leaving, but they probably will seek compensation--possibly $500,000--from his new employer.

Asked repeatedly Wednesday about his interest in Alou, Malone sidestepped questions--”I can’t comment because permission has not been granted”--before finally saying: “I think everyone knows the answer, so we’re kind of dancing around the issue here, [but] I can’t really get into specifics.”

He said it was a “good possibility” that he will talk to several potential managers, though other than Alou he named only former major league skippers Davey Johnson and Kevin Kennedy as candidates, and said he hoped to have a new man in place before the Dodgers’ organizational meetings late this month in Vero Beach, Fla.

Malone said he was still in the process of formulating a list of candidates and that no interviews have been scheduled.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers confirmed Tuesday’s reports that Hoffman and his coaching staff will be offered new positions in the organization.

The new manager, in fact, will inherit Hoffman as part of his coaching staff and will be given the option of retaining coaches Manny Mota, Joe Amalfitano, Mike Scioscia, Charlie Hough, Mickey Hatcher and John Shelby.

The coaches who are not kept on will be reassigned, probably in a minor league capacity.

Hoffman, who formerly managed the Dodgers’ triple-A club at Albuquerque, guided the Dodgers to a 47-41 record. The Dodgers finished third in the National League West at 83-79.

At 40, Hoffman is considered one of the few developing young leaders from the old regime.

“[This move is] no reflection on Glenn Hoffman,” Malone said. “Glenn did a quality job under adverse conditions, and that’s why he was offered a major league coaching job. . . . He’s got a lot of qualities that make him very important to the staff and to this organization.”

Hoffman, in a statement released by the club, said he was happy to be staying in Los Angeles.

“I want to help this team in any way I can,” he said. “I enjoy being around these young and talented players and expect great things from this team in the future.”

At this point, though, Malone wants a more seasoned manager. The Dodgers are expected to have a payroll of more than $70 million next season, and Malone wants an experienced leader at the helm.

He said he hopes fans aren’t offended by his decision to demote loyal employees such as Amalfitano, who has been the Dodgers’ third-base coach for 16 seasons.

“I’m not making these changes haphazardly,” Malone said. “I’m trying to do the right thing. I’m committed to making the Dodgers the best organization in baseball. I’m committed to winning.”

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Ralph Avila, who next year begins his 29th season with the Dodgers and eighth as vice president in charge of the organization’s Campo Las Palmas player-development facility in the Dominican Republic, has added another title to his resume: Latin American scouting director. Avila has been instrumental in the signing of many players, including Raul Mondesi, Pedro and Ramon Martinez, Adrian Beltre and Alejandro Pena.

Staff writer Jason Reid contributed to this story.