One Time Dodgers Manager Emerges as Top Candidate for Managerial Openings This Winter
Former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has emerged as one of the top candidates for the open managerial positions across baseball this winter. Mattingly spent this past season with the Toronto Blue Jays after stepping down from his role as the manager of the Miami Marlins.
“After a decade spent managing in Los Angeles and Miami, Mattingly walked away from the Marlins last season only to segue into a gig with Toronto. Mattingly never had a losing record in five seasons managing the Dodgers, where he was well-respected within his clubhouse. Mattingly understood, players have said, the challenges of succeeding at the big-league level, but never lorded his own outstanding playing career over his team.”
Per Andy McCullough of The Athletic
Mattingly is a well-respected guy around the game, and he could provide some club with good leadership. He did well during his tenure in LA, but it was just time to move on.
He tends to be better suited for a team in a more win-now situation, so that could eliminate him from certain openings. So, a team like the New York Mets could make sense for him.
Another team that could be interested in his services could be right down the freeway from the Dodgers, the Angels. Owner Arte Moreno reportedly wants a more veteran manager to take over their open position, and Mattingly could fill that role and more.
He is familiar with Southern California from his time in LA, and he could help give the Angels some needed stability. It makes sense if the Angels are dead set on forming a competitive team in 2024, rather than going the smart route to rebuild for the future.
Whatever happens with Mattingly, he deserves another chance to manage in the big leagues. Even with a young Marlins team, he did the best he could, despite the odds working against him.
This certainly will be something to keep an eye out for as the offseason begins. We wish Mattingly good luck in his search for a return to a clubhouse around the majors.
Photo Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
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Mattingly >Roberts
Agreed. I mean, LAD moved on from Mattingly after losing in the NLCS, followed by two losses in a row in the NLDS – with a far less talented squad than Roberts has had to work with. And those are the exact rounds Roberts has bungled the last three years, compiling an atrocious 3 – 10 record in those series vs teams we finished 18, 22, and 16 games better respectively. 6 playoff losses in a row and 2 – 8 in last 10 playoff games. If that is not the definition of a need to move on, I don’t know what is.