WEDNESDAY: Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has officially announced Mattingly's extension to reporters, including Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).
TUESDAY: The Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly have agreed to an extension that will keep him in the Dodgers' dugout for the next three seasons, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne. An official announcement is expected later this week. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) reported yesterday that the two sides were closing in on a deal.
Mattingly was already under contract through the 2014 season thanks to a $1.4MM option that vested when his Dodgers defeated the Braves in the NLDS. However, Mattingly made his desire for a multiyear contract known shortly after the season in a surprisingly candid press conference. Mattingly has led the Dodgers to three straight winning seasons, including an NL West Division Championship and an NLCS berth in 2013.
His job was called into question earlier in the season when the Dodgers were struggling despite the team's gaudy payroll, but Mattingly – thanks to some improved health and the emergence of Yasiel Puig – silenced critics by helping the Dodgers to a 42-8 run that vaulted them to the top of the NL West. Shelburne reported back in November that the two sides were discussing a multi-year deal and it sounds like they've finally hammered it all out.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
This is going to make his midseason firing all the more hilarious.
Why would they fire a first place teams coach?
Ignore him. He’s a Giants fan that believes that Bonds didn’t cheat.
I’m actually a Tigers fan.
As a Giants fan, I hope its for 3 years or more.
I’m not sure if this really changes anything other than Mattingly’s confidence level. If the team falters, he’ll still get fired. Though the Dodgers have enough money to buy some more confidence for their skipper.
I haven’t noted any lack of confidence from Mattingly. Sure they could always fire him, but what the extension does is make his fate much less of a constant storyline. It also gives him a freer hand to deal with clubhouse issues.
I’m glad. It’ll give us some much needed stability at the helm.
Donnie Two Times! Keeping Coletti in the big chair and Mattingly in the dugout gives a little comfort for GIants fans worried about the new Evil Empire and its spending habits…
Hopefully someone disconnects the dugout-to-bullpen phone
Oh, sorry to hear that Dodger fans.
This was the smart choice. If it doesn’t work out they can fire him and can easily afford paying him the rest of the contract. This takes away one distraction on a team that has many.
The players like Mattingly so I don’t hate the move… but his management of the bullpen is questionable at best.
so is his management for the line up
yeah, his lineups and situational hitting choices are worse than his bullpen management, in my opinion.
not that the latter is particularly good, but its not worse than average.
He has Wallach as his new bench coach. Maybe that will be different this time around.
wallach needs a shot to manage imo he did well for AAA. Matt should be the bench coach since he is good with the players. i dont want to see him manage for another team and be great
That’s what happens when you get mentored by Joe Torre.
That’s what happens when you get mentored by Joe Torre.
Lifetime contract please.
How long do you expect him to live?
A lifetime, apparently.
Part of the reason the Dodgers turned it around was replacing League with Jensen in the closer role. Took Mattingly way too long to realize that League had no business finishing close games.
The thing was that the call to replace league was not solely on Mattingly. Just like the promotion of Puig was not the call of Mattingly.
Of course the call to replace League was solely on Mattingly. He was the one determining who pitched the ninth, no one else. I never saw Ned go to the mound and signal in League.
Great move! This provides stability in the clubhouse. Donnie has earned the respect of the players, now hopefully he can guide Puig and navigate the Boys in Blue to a WS title in 2014 and beyond!