No announcement yet, but Marlins get Mattingly
Don Mattingly is moving to a different coast and a much lower payroll neighborhood.
Mattingly was hired as manager of the Miami Marlins on Thursday, less than a week after he parted with the Los Angeles Dodgers, two people familiar with the situation said. The people confirmed the hiring on condition of anonymity because the decision hadn’t been announced.
Mattingly, who interviewed for the job on Monday, will face a big adjustment regarding resources. The Dodgers led the majors by far this year with a payroll of $289.6 million at the end of the regular season; the Marlins ranked last at $64.9 million, and little change is expected in 2016.
While Mattingly finished above .500 in each of his five seasons in Los Angeles, the Marlins are coming off their sixth consecutive losing season. They went 71-91 and finished third in the National League East. Mattingly went 446-363 in five years with the Dodgers and won the NL West the past three years, but he went 8-11 in the postseason.
He succeeds Dan Jennings, who made the unusual move from general manager to manager in May.
Jennings was fired by the Marlins on Thursday. President of baseball operations Michael Hill will assume the responsibilities of general manager.
Toronto GM leaves
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos left the team on Thursday, the day he earned executive of the year honors from his peers and rejected an offer to remain in what might have been a diminished role under its new president.
The Blue Jays made the announcement just four days before former Cleveland Indians president Mark Shapiro takes over as Toronto president.
Anthopoulos declined to give a specific reason for the departure after six seasons.
Short hops
Detroit Tigers lefthander Daniel Norris said he has had successful surgery on the cancerous growth on his thyroid. Norris said on Twitter and Instagram that he is “Cancer Free.” He had announced last week that he was having the malignant growth removed. ... Pitching coach Mike Maddux and the Texas Rangers are parting ways after seven seasons. Texas announced that Maddux would not return, though he had earlier been invited to return in 2016.