Dodgers Team News

Today In Dodger History: Ned Colletti Named General Manager In 2005

November 16, 2005

On this day eight years ago, the Dodgers named Ned Colletti their new General Manager, replacing Paul DePodesta at the position.



Colletti became the 10th GM in Dodger franchise history and came over from the rival San Francisco Giants, where he served as an assistant to Giants’ GM Brian Sabean. Colletti held that role with the Giants since 1997.

The new GM came to a Dodgers team that was without a manager after the team parted ways with Jim Tracy after the season. The Dodgers ended a 71-91 season, but were just one season removed from a postseason appearance.

Under Colletti the Dodgers have been very successful, making the postseason four times in his eight seasons and advancing to the NLCS three times. He’s the first Dodger GM to make the postseason in three of his first four seasons and became the fastest GM to 500 wins in franchise history. Since taking over the Dodgers in 2005, Colletti leads all NL GMs in wins and has been a reason that the Dodgers have the best overall ERA in the past eight seasons.

Colletti has brought in big name players during the season that’s helped lead to the Dodgers success. Manny Ramirez, Greg Maddux, Jim Thome and Casey Blake were all brought in during the season to boost the Dodgers’ chances. Colletti also helped construct one of the biggest trades in terms of money last season when the Dodgers acquired Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto in exchange for several Dodger players and prospects.

In his first trade as GM, Colletti acquired a prospect named Andre Ethier from the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Milton Bradley. Ethier became one of the core players in the Dodgers youth movement in the mid-2000s.

Colletti has had his share of regrettable signings as most GMs do, but overall has been very successful as the front office leader of the Dodgers and will continue to do whatever it takes to improve the Dodgers.

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