Dodgers' Mattingly: Rebuilt roster is 'more of a team'

The offseason exploits of Andrew Friedman, the newly hired president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, have won the approval of manager Don Mattingly, who recently said his rebuilt roster is a more cohesive unit than the one he led in 2014.

"I just feel it's more of a team," Mattingly told MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. "The club last year won 94 games. We were a little crazy, but that's who we were. Nothing wrong with that. But I think the pieces will fit together better (in 2015)."

Mattingly, who was consulted about each of Friedman's moves this winter, suggested the additions of Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick will foster a more pervasive team-first attitude in the clubhouse next season. Rollins will also provide some stability at shortstop, replacing the oft-injured Hanley Ramirez, while Kendrick represents an upgrade over departed second baseman Dee Gordon.

"With Hanley, it was really tough, health-wise, to know if he was playing or not playing," said Mattingly. "It puts everybody in a bind. In Howie, we got a right-handed bat with 75 RBIs. Jimmy is a true leadoff hitter. The way we're built, it's more like a playoff team, a team that battles every at-bat, more of a team approach and finding a way to win a game with the whole group of guys."

Mattingly, however, lamented the loss of Matt Kemp, who was traded to the San Diego Padres last month. After struggling through an injury-riddled 2013 campaign, Kemp rebounded nicely last season, hitting .287/.346/.506 (140 OPS+) with 25 homers and 38 doubles in 150 games.

Kemp's relationship with Mattingly, though, grew tense when he was moved out of center field in favor of Yasiel Puig in late May. Though Mattingly texted the two-time All-Star after the deal with the Padres was finalized, he never heard back.

"The Matt thing is a tough one, because it looks like the old Matt is back," Mattingly said of the trade. "But you know with our outfield situation, something had to happen. We had to do something. I texted Matt, thanked him for everything he's done for me and our time together since '08. I hope I was able to help his career.

"At first, the move (out of center) was rough. The time I made the decision, it was never personal. I like Matt, it was just something I had to do for the best of the club. Sometimes that hurts guys' feelings. But I thought when he went to right field, it was a big step. Yasiel solidified center and from there, we took off. I don't know if (Kemp is) mad at me. But it was the right thing for the right reason. If he's upset or hurt, he can be mad, but at least I was man enough to tell him I did what I thought was best for the 25 guys. He was good about it and, at the end of the day, we won."

Despite the loss of Kemp, the Dodgers appear to be the early favorite in the National League West. Not only did Friedman bolster his lineup with Rollins, Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal, but the executive also added Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson to augment a starting corps that features Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu.