Last night, word started to spread that the Blue Jays were going to hire Don Mattingly as bench coach.
And that’s finally what happened.
That means Casey Candaele, who started the 2022 season as manager in the AAA and was promoted to bench coach to help John Schneider in Toronto, will be back as manager of the Buffalo Bisons in 2023.
But back to Mattingly.
After leaving Miami, it was unclear what awaited the Yankees legend. A passage on TV has even been considered.
But Mattingly still had the holy fire. That said, like many guys who still have the sacred fire, he had to settle for a position of coach bench since all 30 MLB teams have a manager.
Charlie Montoyo, for example, has a similar role with the White Sox in 2023.
Through his experience as a player and manager (Dodgers, Marlins), he will bring an extraordinary experience to the division rivals of the Yankees… and it is not John Schneider who will complain about it. On the contrary.
Schneider is a guy who has half a season as manager behind the tie. He’s also a guy who grew up in New Jersey loving the Yankees. Mattingly was therefore an idol for Schneider.
The manager is therefore eager to work hand in hand with him and to be able to learn from him.
Mattingly will also be able to help Vladimir GuerreroJr. at first base. And this, even if Vladdy hates the Yankees to confess.
That’s a big hire for the Blue Jays. It remains to be seen if that will propel him to a new managerial job in the future when there is an opening elsewhere in MLB.
