One former member of the Toronto Blue Jays coaching staff admits that he was likely on the way out regardless of how the World Series played out.

Don Mattingly, the Blue Jays’ bench coach this past season and hitting coach in 2023 and 2024, had called it quits with the organization just days after the World Series.

Mattingly, a six-time All-Star and one-time MVP as a player with the New York Yankees, joined The Show podcast with New York Post’s Jon Heyman and guest co-host Sean Casey this week to discuss his departure from the Blue Jays.

“I knew it was time for me, really before the season started,” Mattingly told the hosts. “Toronto… that for me, had ran its course.”

The 64-year-old Mattingly had previously served as manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins, leaving the latter role in 2022. But while he figured he’d ride off into the sunset and call it a career from professional baseball, a phone call with Toronto GM Ross Atkins convinced him to stick around in the sport.

“Ross called and talked about the situation with [John Schneider] being a young manager, took over for Charlie [Montoyo] the year before and wanted some veteran presence around him, just to help, just kind of be another voice and a set of eyes,” Mattingly said. “It was nice to be wanted, right? Toronto wanted me. I felt like the purpose was good.”

For Schneider, who grew up a Yankees fan and even admitted prior to the World Series that he had grown up with a Mattingly poster on his wall, the two formed a fast friendship. But prior to this season, Schneider’s staff shifted around its roles, bringing in the 36-year-old David Popkins as the team’s new hitting coach. 

Under Popkins, Toronto largely turned from a disappointing offence to one of the league’s best, with Mattingly’s influence within the clubhouse now diminishing.

“I kind of knew that [John Schneider] was where he did not need me anymore. He was past that point where I was feeling like I was needed, really, or that useful, right? In-game, yeah, maybe here or there, but in general, he knew what he wanted to do, right? He had it together. And so I knew it was time for me, really before the season started,” Mattingly added.

Despite perhaps mentally always having one foot out the door this past season, Mattingly described his experience in Toronto as “definitely positive.”

“What a team. [It was a] pleasure to be a part of that, part of John’s staff, be with those guys…  this is a great group of guys from top to bottom,” he added.

And while he didn’t give any specifics, Mattingly suggested he is close to landing a new job to continue his career in baseball. “There’s nothing official, but I am excited about the opportunity that I think it’s going to be there.”

Lead photo by

John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images