After a disappointing exit from the playoffs at the hands of the hot New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers and their manager Don Mattingly have mutually agreed to end their partnership.
Mattingly, who had one year remaining and was reportedly talking to the team about a contract extension, will be stepping down after spending eight years with the organization including five seasons as manager of the team.
Following from ESPN.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced Thursday.
Mattingly had one year remaining on his contract, and sources indicated to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that the Dodgers offered him an extension this past weekend. But after years of uncertainty about the Dodgers’ long-term commitment to him — Mattingly has worked under two ownership groups and two general managers — he informed the team earlier this week that he preferred to move on.
“There was great respect from both sides,” Mattingly’s agent, Ray Schulte, told ESPN’s Mark Saxon.
Mattingly met with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Farhan Zaidi and senior vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes for several days after the conclusion of the season.
“As our end of season process began, we discussed the past year, our future goals, necessary changes, roster needs and other matters relating to next year’s campaign,” Friedman said in a statement. “As the dialogue progressed daily, it evolved to a point where we all agreed that it might be best for both sides to start fresh. We decided to think about it for a couple of days and when we spoke again, we felt comfortable that this was the direction to go. I have the utmost respect for Donnie and thoroughly enjoyed working with him this past season. I want to thank him for his hard work and collaboration, as well as his accomplishments, including three consecutive National League West titles. I wish him nothing but success in the future.”
The Dodgers confirmed the report on their twitter account.
The Dodgers and Don Mattingly have mutually agreed that Mattingly will not return to manage the club in 2016. pic.twitter.com/60xujjrob6
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 22, 2015
Mattingly took over after Joe Torre left the team following the 2010 season. His first two seasons with the team were less than stellar, finishing above .500 but missing the playoffs in his first two seasons. He then went on a run of winning three consecutive NL West division titles, the first time Los Angeles has done that in their franchise history.
Now that Mattingly is stepping down, there is no clear-cut choice to replace him but early reports have former MLB outfielder Gabe Kapler, as a serious candidate.
For Mattingly, he’s been reportedly linked to the Miami Marlins but there are a few more teams who are looking for a manager and Mattingly could find himself in a new job pretty soon.
