The Toronto Blue Jays came one run away from winning the 2025 World Series. They took the reigning champions to seven games, but couldn’t seal the deal. In the end, the Los Angeles Dodgers came away as the back-to-back champions for the first time since the New York Yankees of the early 2000s.
Yesterday, Wednesday, November 5th, the Blue Jays announced the return of Shane Bieber. The starting ace exercised his $16 million option, deciding to stick with Toronto and, in the process, turn down a ton of money.
However, the Blue Jays got some news on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Bench coach Don Mattingly will be leaving the organization. New reports are revealing more details about his departure, and at least one team, the Philadelphia Phillies, has discussed bringing him into their organization, according to PHLY Sports’ Jim Salisbury.
“Phillies have discussed the possibility of hiring him as bench coach,” Salisbury tweeted November 6 after the news of Mattingly leaving the Blue Jays hit social media.
Don Mattingly Is Leaving the Blue Jays
The New York Post was the first to report Mattingly’s departure from the Blue Jays. In a joint report between Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, they revealed the move.
“Don Mattingly has decided to step away from the Blue Jays bench coach job,” Heyman and Sherman wrote early on November 6th. “But, not with the intention of retiring from baseball, The Post has learned.”
At the time of his departure, Mattingly had been with the organization for three seasons. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reports that it “was Mattingly’s decision” to leave the organization. He had served the full length of his contract with the Blue Jays.
Don Mattingly Linked to a New Team
Now that Mattingly is leaving the Blue Jays, where will he go? Luckily for the 64-year-old, there are several options on the table.
Sportsnet reports that there are managerial openings with the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies. However, another report indicates that at least one organization has discussed bringing him onto its team.
The connection to the Philadelphia Phillies makes a lot of sense. Mattingly’s son, Preston Mattingly, is the Vice President and General Manager of the Phillies. Sports are often all about “who you know,” and this could be a potential arrangement.
The Sporting News is reporting that the Phillies haven’t had a clear candidate to fill their open coaching position until now.
“In the coaching staff under Rob Thomson, not many changes have been made,” Matt Sullivan of The Sporting News wrote. “The only spot open is the bench coaching job, and there haven’t been any clear candidates to emerge. Coming to Philadelphia to work with his son in the Phillies organization would be a fun pairing. He left the Blue Jays and is looking to stay in the MLB coaching landscape.”
Sullivan also believes that the Phillies make sense as a landing spot for the manager and coaching veteran.
“A trip to Philadelphia to be with his son is a realistic landing spot for the longtime MLB player, manager, and coach,” Sullivan continued. “The six-time All-Star, when a player for the New York Yankees, Mattingly would bring a lot of MLB experience to the Phillies coaching staff.”
Free agency is expected to open up later on Thursday in the MLB. In addition to improving their pitching, the Blue Jays will be on the lookout for a new bench coach.
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