Mattingly has eye on future success
MIAMI — On a day when Marlins president David Samson said an emotional farewell amid regrets, Don Mattingly embraced being part of a new direction for the Miami Marlins, even if it means rebuilding from the ground up.
“Part of my thought about coming to Miami was to build,” said Mattingly, who is concluding the second year of a fouryear contract as manager. “I came with the thought of basically building, and building something that’s sustainable.”
Mattingly said Thursday he hasn’t yet spoken to Derek Jeter, who will run the baseball operation after the ownership change is completed. But from four seasons working with the iconic shortstop while a Yankees coach, Mattingly is well acquainted with Jeter’s competitiveness and leadership abilities.
“The one thing I do know from Derek’s standpoint is he’s a guy that’s going to come here and he’s going to want to win,” Mattingly said. “And he’ll have a vision, I think, for the long range where he wants to build the organization where it’s not just a chance to win one year.”
Given the restraints of revenue that has been the reality of the Marlins in the market, Mattingly said it is imperative that player development in the minor league organization becomes the cornerstone for success.
Mattingly sounded as if he expects it will be necessary for the Marlins to trade some of the players who have been the core of the team over the past few seasons, both to help restock the pool of young talent and also to reduce payroll.
“It has to be development where you always have that pipeline filled with young players coming up, being able to fill holes through your minor league system,” Mattingly said.
When he took the job before 2015, he said, “I knew we had a good core, that we had some good young players. I knew the window was short, depending on our payroll, what we were able to do and who we’re able to hold onto.”
Samson, in his final news conference as Marlins president, said that during negotiations on the sale of the team he was impressed that Jeter has the ability to transition from success on the field to management in teaming up with Bruce Sherman, who will become the control person of the franchise.