Blue Jays, bench coach Mattingly part ways

The Toronto Blue Jays will need to find a new bench coach, as Don Mattingly decided to step away with his contract expiring following the club's World Series run.

"Kind of had a pretty good feeling that this was going to be my last year in Toronto," Mattingly said Thursday, according to Thomas Harrigan and Elizabeth Muratore of MLB.com. "And really, when I went to Toronto, when (general manager) Ross (Atkins) called me, I was thrilled. I had a great time there.

"The organization's been tremendous. The fans there are tremendous. It's been a great run. But I thought before the year started, that I felt like this was kind of the end with Toronto, and really nothing more than that. Just felt like it was the right time."

Mattingly isn't planning on retiring and would be open to other MLB coaching or managerial opportunities, report Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

The Philadelphia Phillies have discussed the idea of adding the 64-year-old as a bench coach, according to Jim Salisbury of PHLY Sports.

The 2025 World Series marked the first time Mattingly participated in the Fall Classic over his 39-year career in professional baseball as either a coach or a player.

Mattingly spent three seasons with Toronto. He owns an 889-950 record as a skipper over 12 campaigns with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.

Mattingly is also on the Hall of Fame's contemporary baseball era ballot. The 1985 AL MVP was a six-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glover over his 14-year career with the New York Yankees.