Dodgers finalizing deal to make former All-Star Mark Prior their pitching coach

The Los Angeles Dodgers are going younger with their new pitching coach.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported on Tuesday that the team is close to finalizing a deal with former All-Star Mark Prior to serve in that capacity.

Prior, who is just 39, had been the Dodgers bullpen coach for the last two seasons. The team just reassigned longtime pitching coach Rick Honeycutt to a special assistant role after 14 seasons in charge of that side of the ball.

After a brief run of brilliance with the Chicago Cubs was cut short by injury, Prior now has five years of coaching experience under his belt, both with the Dodgers and previously with the San Diego Padres as well. He will have his work cut out for him however, especially given how the Dodgers’ pitching came under fire during their latest playoff disappointment.