Don Mattingly’s brief return as an MLB manager appears to be over.
Mattingly will likely be “gracefully dismissed” by the Philadelphia Phillies within the coming week, Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reported Friday. Nightengale adds that the decision will be announced as a mutual parting and that the Phillies will offer Mattingly a chance to stay in the organization, potentially as an advisor.
However, Nightengale goes on to say that the Phillies want “new blood, new energy, and a new voice” at the manager position. You can read his full report on the situation here.
Mattingly, 65, first joined the Phillies organization as a bench coach last offseason and then became the the team’s interim manager after Rob Thomson was fired in late April. He did well to right the ship and went 79-55 (.590) this season to help Philadelphia clinch a playoff berth.
But the Phillies limped into the postseason, going 10-14 in the month of September and falling to the third NL wild-card spot. Mattingly was also criticized for his decision-making down the stretch of the season, and the team would ultimately lose in their wild-card series against the Atlanta Braves.
Because Mattingly’s son Preston is the general manager of the Phillies, it appears that the team will be giving him some grace as they move on. But the Phillies may inevitably be looking towards this potential replacement whom they have been eyeing for several months now.