Editorials

Rumors: Marlins Would Be Interested In Don Mattingly If Available

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Don Mattingly has won the National League West with the Los Angeles Dodgers the past two seasons and is on his way to a third straight title this season. So that means his job is safe, right?

Maybe not.



While Mattingly has gotten the Dodgers to the postseason, his team has lost to the St. Louis Cardinals both times, including an NLDS exit in 2014. When Andrew Friedman took over as president of baseball operations and Joe Maddon left the Tampa Bay Rays, many believed that Maddon would be heading for Los Angeles. However, Friedman stuck with Mattingly and the team is currently 5.5 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants.

There’s a belief that Mattingly must deliver a trip to the World Series in order to secure his job for the final year of his contract. The 54-year-old signed a three-year extension before the 2014 season, but managers are let go before their deal all the time.

It appears that if the Dodgers do end up parting ways with Mattingly, there’s a team that would be interested, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

While Jennings is praised for tireless work and an eternally upbeat attitude, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria has told everyone he seeks an experienced manager now. Mattingly, a known favorite of the owner, is thought to be among the strong considerations, should he become available.

The Miami Marlins fired manager Mike Redmond earlier this season and appointed general manager Dan Jennings the new manager; however, the team has asked Jennings to step down after the season and return to his role as GM.

Mattingly took over as Dodgers manager in 2011 as the successor to Joe Torre, but had zero Major League managing experience before that. He has been praised by many for his handling of the clubhouse, but has also been criticized for his in-game management.

It will be an interesting story come this winter if the Dodgers don’t make a deep run into October.

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Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

9 Comments

  1. Mattingly has no in-game management. He is clueless with regards to how to manage a bullpen, how to construct a lineup, and how to generate a run late in the game when he needs to. He consistently loses games by being out-managed by other teams. Florida, he’s all yours!

  2. Let’s hope he takes McGuire with him. Personally, I’d install Kevin Kennedy as manager and the new hitting coach would be either Normar or Raphael Furcal. The team, especially with the addition of Peraza, needs to learn how to use their speed with the power they already have.

    1. What in the world makes you think Furcal or Nomar are qualified to be the hitting coach? Just because you hear guys on tv or the radio talk about games and 2nd guess decisions doesn’t mean they could do any better. Kennedy acts like a know-it-all.

      If we make a change, and I agree we should, I think it should only be at the managerial position.

  3. Quite frankly I wouldn’t work for that Marlins owner I don’t care how much he paid me

  4. Mattingly is loved by Mark Walters, Dodgers owner. Friedman would probably have to convince Mr Walters. Also, Kasten has a long history of NOT firing managers.

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