UPDATE, 12:15 p.m. ET: Right after this story was originally published, it was announced that the Padres have hired former reliever Craig Stammen as their new manager.

Furthermore, one report indicates he could be a bench coach option for the Phillies, where his son is high up in the front office.

12:10 p.m. ET: Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly will not return to the organization in 2026, though it's unclear why at the moment. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Mattingly has no plans to retire.

What could Mattingly want next?

This is all speculative at the moment, frankly, but there are two managerial jobs still open: The San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies. Mattingly has been a manager before, serving in that post for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins. Perhaps he wants to take another crack at that position?

The Padres, who made the playoffs each of the last two seasons and three of the last four, are an exponentially better job than Colorado, which was one of the worst teams in baseball history this past year.

What does it mean for the Jays?

It means that manager John Schneider needs a new right-hand man. While we never fully know the impact of a bench coach on the success of a baseball team, seeing any kind of 'brain drain' from a team that advanced to the World Series is never fun.

We always like the idea of the power structure staying in place, but it's already been upended in this case.

About Mattingly

One of the best players of the 1980s and early 1990s, he spent 14 years in the big leagues with the New York Yankees. A lifetime .307 hitter, he blasted 222 career home runs and drove in 1,099 runs. He also had 442 doubles, leading the majors in the category each year from 1984-1986. 

A former MVP, he was also a nine-time Gold Glove winner, a batting champion and a six-time All-Star. He also won three Silver Slugger Awards.

Mattingly was just named to the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He will find out on Dec. 7 if he will join the 2026 class. Also on the ballot are Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, Dale Murphy, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent and Fernando Valenzuela.

As a manager, he's won 889 games over 12 years, going 889-950 (.483). He made the playoffs with the 2013-15 Dodgers and the 2020 Marlins. He had been with the Blue Jays since the 2023 campaign.

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