As of last week the Dodgers reportedly hadn’t decided on Don Mattingly’s fate for next season, but now Ken Gurnick of MLB.com talked to a source who says he’ll be back as manager regardless of what happens in the NLCS.
Mattingly’s job was in serious jeopardy in May and June, but the Dodgers turned their whole season around in a huge way and then beat the Braves in the NLDS. His contract includes an option for 2014, so to bring him back the Dodgers simply need to not fire him, although it’ll be interesting to see if there’s any tension surrounding what would be lame-duck status. Last offseason he asked to have his 2014 option picked up in advance and the Dodgers said no thanks, so clearly Mattingly isn’t keen on managing under a one-year deal.
Mattingly has a 260-225 (.536) record in three seasons since taking over for Joe Torre, including 92-70 this year for the team’s fifth 90-win campaign in the past 20 seasons.
