One thing that is always prevalent around this time of the year in Major League Baseball is the reshuffling and recycling of managers. One team fires their manager for failing to meet expectations, and another team hires said manager believing he is the missing piece to taking the next step forward.
In some instances this strategy pans out, perhaps most notably with the San Francisco Giants hiring manager Bruce Bochy away from the San Diego Padres.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Don Mattingly recently agreed to part ways, despite Mattingly winning the National League West division title the last three years.
Days after the decision was announced, Mattingly interviewed with the Miami Marlins for their managerial vacancy. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the interview has led to serious negotiations:
Don Mattingly and the Marlins are in serious talks to make him the new manager, and everyone’s expectation is that it will happen. Mattingly was Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria’s top choice from the start, and sources say the interview Monday went extremely well, with both parties impressed.
The Marlins began showing interest in Mattingly during the season, well before it was publicly apparent what his future in Los Angeles would be.
Mattingly went 446-363 in five years as the Dodgers manager, but only went 8-11 in the postseason. Outside of a trip to the National League Championship Series in 2013, the Dodgers never advanced past the first round of the playoffs under Mattingly.
With the World Series currently underway, it’s unlikely a potential deal between Mattingly and the Marlins will officially be announced prior to the Fall Classic concluding. However, the two sides certainly are at liberty to negotiate and come to an agreement beforehand.
