Don Mattingly Leaving Role With Toronto Blue Jays
Another one bites the dust. After a soul-crushing Game 7 World Series loss that probably has Toronto fans questioning their life choices, the Blue Jays are facing another sting: Bench Coach Don Mattingly is packing his bags. But hold your retirement party invitations, because at 64, “Donnie Baseball” isn’t ready to hang up his cleats just yet. He’s leaving on his own terms and looking for his next big challenge.
Mattingly’s Baseball Life
You have to feel for the guy. Mattingly’s career seems to be a masterclass in cosmic irony. He was the face of the New York Yankees for 14 seasons, a bona fide superstar with a mantle full of Gold Gloves and a ‘stache that commanded respect. Yet, he only got a single taste of the postseason in his final year, 1995. The very next season? The Yankees kicked off a dynasty, winning four World Series in five years. Ouch.
His coaching career has been a series of “almosts” that would make even the most optimistic person start believing in curses. He was on the Yankees’ coaching staff for the epic 2004 ALCS collapse against the Red Sox. He managed the Dodgers to three straight division titles but could never get past the NLCS.
Then, he joined the Blue Jays, providing a steady, veteran hand that helped guide them to their first World Series in over three decades, only to lose in the most gut-wrenching way possible. The baseball gods are nothing if not cruel.
So, Where Does Mattingly Go From Here?
With his contract up, Mattingly is now a free agent in the coaching world, and speculation is already running wild. Two managerial gigs are still up for grabs: the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies. Could he be a fit? He’s got over a decade of managerial experience with the Dodgers and Marlins, and his presence was a huge reason the young Blue Jays clubhouse didn’t implode under pressure. He’s the kind of calming, been-there-done-that presence a team could rally around.
There’s also the nostalgic, full-circle possibility of a return to The Bronx. Imagine Mattingly back in pinstripes, sharing his wisdom with the current crop of Yankees. It would sting for Toronto, but man, it would make for a great story.
What’s Next?
While he figures out his next move, Mattingly also has his eye on Cooperstown. He’s on the Contemporary Baseball Era player ballot for the Hall of Fame, with results announced on December 7. After a career defined by incredible highs and unbelievable near-misses, a plaque in the Hall would be a fitting, if not overdue, final chapter.
For now, the man who’s been chasing a ring for nearly four decades is back on the market. Wherever he lands, one thing is certain: Don Mattingly isn’t done with baseball. And baseball, for its part, isn’t done with him either.
