
Imago
US Presswire Sports Archive Unknown Date Anaheim , CA, USA FILE PHOTO New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly in action against the Anaheim Angels at Anaheim Stadium. Anaheim California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 2124403

Imago
US Presswire Sports Archive Unknown Date Anaheim , CA, USA FILE PHOTO New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly in action against the Anaheim Angels at Anaheim Stadium. Anaheim California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 2124403
The 2025 World Series loss hurt a lot of fans, but we know that it hurt the players and the staff even. more. But as time moves on, so should we, and that is exactly what one Blue Jays coach has done. After the World Series loss, he left the Blue Jays and is on the market. Now, some Yankees fans want nostalgia and want him back in the Bronx, but what is his view on things?
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Yesterday, news broke out that Don Mattingly was leaving the Blue Jays after a 3 years tenure and is back on the managing market. Just as that news hit the streets, the Yankees fan wanted their legend back in the Bronx. When Mattingly was asked about the same, he said, “I think at this point, I just want to just chill and figure out what I want to do… just trying to find, see what comes up and what balances the family and work.”
Don Mattingly’s departure from the Toronto Blue Jays came just days after their heartbreaking World Series loss. The Blue Jays, guided by Mattingly as bench coach, fell two outs short against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7. It marked his first World Series appearance in a 36-year coaching career that has included managerial roles with the Dodgers and Marlins. MLB insider Jon Heyman confirmed the exit was mutual, citing Mattingly’s wish to explore new opportunities and spend time with family.
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Soon after his announcement, speculation quickly shifted toward a possible reunion with the New York Yankees. The timing aligned with rising pressure on manager Aaron Boone, who remains under contract through 2026 but faces fan scrutiny. Mattingly previously served as the Yankees’ hitting coach and bench coach under Joe Torre from 2004 to 2007. His return talk gained traction as fans linked his experience and steady leadership to the team’s ongoing postseason struggles.
Don Mattingly on whether or not he’d consider the Rockies’ final managerial opening or rejoin the Yankees in some capacity pic.twitter.com/wAVqSmj9rC
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) November 6, 2025
At 64, Mattingly has said he is not retiring but searching for the right fit. Reports from Sportsnet and Reuters confirm he remains open to future baseball opportunities. While he has voiced interest in balancing work and family, his deep Yankee ties keep the door slightly open. With Aaron Boone under growing pressure after another October disappointment, Mattingly may be quietly waiting for the right moment. For now, he leaves Toronto respectfully, still chasing the championship sendoff that barely slipped away.
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Baseball never stops writing sequels, and Don Mattingly might just be eyeing another chapter. The Bronx remembers its own, especially when the current story feels stuck in rewrites. If Aaron Boone’s pen runs out of ink, Mattingly could be holding the next draft.
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Fans want a nostalgic boost, but is Don Mattingly the right fit for the Yankees?
There’s a reason nostalgia sells: it’s comforting, familiar, and usually far more appealing than whatever’s happening in the present. The Yankees know that trick better than anyone, and fans can’t resist dreaming of the good old days when Don Mattingly ruled the Bronx. But sentiment doesn’t win championships, and the pinstripes don’t need another ghost from their past haunting the dugout.
Don Mattingly’s three-year stint as the Toronto Blue Jays’ bench coach ended just short of glory. The former Yankees captain watched from the dugout as a two-out lead vanished in the World Series, ending his closest chance at a championship. With his exit, reports from NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch suggested that a possible Yankees reunion could ignite unnecessary tension in the Bronx clubhouse.
Klapisch noted that Mattingly’s presence beside Aaron Boone would instantly turn him into a “successor-in-waiting.” Boone, already under pressure after a 16-year title drought, would face louder calls for his removal. For Mattingly, returning under those circumstances could damage his reputation as a respected veteran coach, one known for professionalism and loyalty.
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In the Bronx, even legends like Don Mattingly can’t outrun the shadows of expectation. The Yankees already have enough ghosts whispering from the rafters about unfinished business. Sometimes, the smartest reunion is the one that never makes it past the rumor mill.
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