Just days after departing from his position as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Don Mattingly may already have a new gig lined up.
According to a report by Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the 54-year-old Mattingly is interviewing with the Miami Marlins on Monday for their current managerial opening. While Frisaro is also reporting that all signs point to Mattingly getting the job, he says that the team will not announce their new manager until after the conclusion of the World Series.
Source: Don Mattingly is interviewing with #Marlins today
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) October 26, 2015
Whether it is Mattingly or not, #Marlins will not announce their next manager until after #WorldSeries All signs point to Mattingly
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) October 26, 2015
The Marlins have registered interest in Mattingly ever since it was announced that he would not return as Dodgers manager in 2016. In light of Miami recently having thrown in the towel on the “Dan Jennings: Professional Skipper” experiment, it’s a potential hiring that makes a ton of sense for both sides.
Miami could use a veteran manager to develop their young core, and with a 446-363 career managerial record and having led the Dodgers to three consecutive NL West division titles in his five seasons there, Mattingly certainly fits that billing. Expectations in South Florida would also be a lot more reasonable for Mattingly, who was seemingly forced out of Los Angeles and their “championship or bust” mentality after numerous early postseason exits.
While Mattingly does have a reputation as one of the worst in-game tactical managers in the sport and while working for Jeffrey Loria is no cup of tea, it looks like a clear match here. With the potential for a Joe Maddon/Cubs-like arc here, the Marlins’ hiring of Mattingly may not be a matter of if, but instead a matter of when.
H/T CBS Sports
