That Didn’t Take Long

29 Oct, 2015

Don Mattingly has been hired as manager of the Miami Marlins less than a week after he parted with the Los Angeles Dodgers, two people familiar with the situation said Thursday.

The people confirmed the hiring to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision hadn’t been announced. Mattingly becomes owner Jeffrey Loria’s seventh manager since June 2010.

Mattingly, who interviewed for the job Monday, went 446-363 in five years with the Dodgers and won the NL West the past three years. But the Dodgers have not reached the World Series since winning the title in 1988, and they lost to the New York Mets this year in the NL Division Series.

In Miami, Mattingly succeeds Dan Jennings, who made the unusual move from general manager to manager in May. The injury-riddled Marlins finished 71-91, their sixth consecutive losing season.

Mattingly was considered the front-runner for the job. Other candidates to be interviewed included former major league managers Manny Acta, Larry Bowa and Bo Porter.

Mattingly will face a big change in resources. The Dodgers’ payroll this year was $270 million, while the Marlins ranked next to last in the majors at $69 million, and little change is expected in 2016.

But Miami has roster full of young, talented players led by slugger Giancarlo Stanton and ace Jose Fernandez.

The announcement of the hiring might not come until after the World Series, and any delay will allow the Marlins to hold off until they can make a bigger splash in Miami with the news. It broke hours after the Heat’s first game, and on the day the Dolphins played New England.

AP

Image Herald Sports

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