GM Meetings Notebook: Could Brewers lure Mattingly from Blue Jays?

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Soon after the GM Meetings began, the Blue Jays announced a significant expansion of responsibilities for Don Mattingly, who’s still the team’s bench coach but will also take on the newly created role of offensive co-ordinator.

Unless he leaves for the Milwaukee Brewers, that is. Mattingly’s also among the candidates to replace Craig Counsell as the Brewers’ next manager, and the Blue Jays won’t block him from pursuing that opportunity.  

Speaking in general terms out of respect for all candidates, Brewers GM Matt Arnold offered some clarity on what he’s seeking for the role.

“The priority for me is just to get the best person,” Arnold said. “The best human. Obviously the baseball acumen is important and experience and all those things are certainly important, but I think you’ve got to lead with people and I think it’s hard to make mistakes when you start with the person that’s really tremendous.”

The Brewers are seeking a manager who cares deeply for others, Arnold said, but healthy conflict is not a problem. In fact, it’s part of the job description.

“There are some really successful people who are hard to partner with,” Arnold said. “I want that to be a real partnership. I thought Craig and I had a real partnership. We saw the world very differently in a lot of ways and fought just about every day in a great way, but I learned a lot from him and that’s what I want. I want someone that will push me to make me better, but has the best intentions around people first.” 

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the other candidates are Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy, Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough, Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker and former Brewers infielder Rickie Weeks.

Of those candidates, Mattingly has by far the most experience, having managed the Dodgers for five years and the Miami Marlins for another seven on his way to a lifetime 889-950 record. For the Brewers, experience will be a big factor, but not the only factor.

“When you look back at Joe Torre and guys throughout history who were fired multiple times, they had that experience and now they’re in the Hall of Fame,” Arnold said. “That helps those guys, I think in the long run, but I think also there are some inexperienced candidates that are certainly worthy of an opportunity as well.”

There’s no timeline for completing this hire, according to Arnold, who compared Counsell’s recent departure to being hit by a truck. Should Mattingly get the job, the Blue Jays would once again have to structure a coaching staff they just finished redesigning.

A GOOD FIT GETS BETTER

Entering the off-season, Rhys Hoskins looked like an intriguing possibility for the Blue Jays given their need for offence and his lifetime OPS+ of 125. Now, the 30-year-old first baseman looks like an even better fit.

Not only did the Philadelphia Phillies decline to make Hoskins a qualifying offer, they announced Bryce Harper will be moving to first base, essentially closing the door on a reunion with Hoskins, who’s almost all the way back from an ACL injury. With an open designated hitter spot to play with, the Blue Jays appear to be a strong fit.

“Rhys's pieces fits all teams' puzzles,” said Scott Boras, Hoskins’ agent.

As for the Blue Jays, they can entertain the idea of adding a player who slots in at DH most days, much like Brandon Belt did in 2023. Without getting into specifics, GM Ross Atkins said the Blue Jays can explore deals for DH-first players.

“We’re open to that because of the versatility we already have on our team,” Atkins said via email due to the stomach virus circulating through the GM meetings. 

A short-term deal could make sense for both sides, much as it did for Boras client Marcus Semien, who hit 45 home runs with the Blue Jays before signing a $175-million contract with Texas. 

SPECULATION, NOT TRACTION

Since the Cardinals need pitching badly and plan to contend soon, St. Louis is an intriguing team to watch in the trade market. Plus, they have enviable position player depth, allowing them to consider need-for-need trades. 

Meanwhile, some industry observers see Alek Manoah as a possible trade candidate after a disappointing 2023 season and the Blue Jays need bats. But so far, there’s no indication meaningful talks have occurred. Not only did Atkins offer a strong endorsement of Manoah on Tuesday, Cardinals president John Mozeliak said he hasn’t “spent a ton of time on trades” yet, focusing more on free agency.

The Blue Jays and Cardinals engaged in trade talks last winter when the Blue Jays were listening on their catchers and again this past summer when the Blue Jays acquired relievers Genesis Cabrera and Jordan Hicks in separate deals.

Without offering details, Atkins said other teams have inquired about Blue Jays pitching early this off-season.

RAPID FIRE

• By far the most common prediction for Shohei Ohtani was the Dodgers, but various executives view the Rangers as serious bidders, too. Some believe the Mariners are unlikely to land the two-way superstar. 

• As Vladimir Guerrero Jr. works out in Tampa this off-season, he may take the occasional grounder at third. “Our focus is on him winning a Gold Glove at first,” Atkins said. “He likes to take ground balls at third and there isn’t much downside to that should the need arise.”

• It was just a year ago that the Blue Jays traded Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez away, and while it would be quite a change in direction to build this off-season around a deal for one of the outfielders the possibility hasn’t been ruled out.