Don Mattingly reveals why he left Blue Jays after World Series

Don Mattingly knew his time in Toronto was coming to an end months ago. 

During an appearance at MLB’s flagship store in Manhattan for a Gold Glove meet-and-greet, Mattingly sounded off on his departure from the Blue Jays, revealing that he was “close to that decision before the season even started.”

“Kinda had a pretty good feeling this was gonna be my last season in Toronto,” Mattingly said. “… Had a great time there, the organization has been tremendous. The fans there are tremendous. It’s been a great run. But, before the year started, I felt like this was kind of the end with Toronto. Really nothing more than that.”

While The Post reported Thursday that Mattingly is willing to return to the dugout in the right situation, the former Yankees great has the “balancing act” of baseball travel and family on his mind. 

“If I talk about it right now, I’m like, ‘the last thing I wanna do is be on the road,’” he said. “But you never know how you feel in a month from now or whatever. So kind of those are the things I wrestle with. This is really that balancing act of family and still being a part of the game, which, I still like what I’m doing.”

Mattingly, who has 12 years of managerial experience with the Dodgers and Marlins, is open to becoming a skipper again, but shot down the idea of taking over the Rockies’ job, which is the last managerial opening in the big leagues right now. 

“I don’t say this in a bad way, but the Rockies is probably not a good fit for me,” Mattingly said. “That’s more of a building situation, probably meant more for a younger guy with lots of energy. So I wouldn’t think that would be the proper fit.”

When asked specifically about a role with the Yankees, with whom he played his entire 14-year career, Mattingly didn’t address the question directly. 

“At this point, I just want to just chill and figure out what I want to do,” he said.

Mattingly, 64, had served as the Blue Jays’ bench coach for three seasons before his contract expired after Toronto’s World Series loss to the Dodgers.

He was enlisted to help mentor John Schneider, who became a manager for the first time in 2022, when taking the job.