Don Mattingly, bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, will serve as special advisor to the group seeking a major league expansion team in Nashville.
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At least that’s what USA Today Sports reported on Monday. Mattingly will serve his two terms concurrently.
The expansion project is being led by an investor group called Music City Baseball and is directed by Dave Stewart. The African-American pitcher won the World Series three times, most recently with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, before serving as general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks for two seasons.
The eventual team would be named the Nashville Stars in honor of the eponymous club that played in the black leagues in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. The goal is to have a stadium built in time for the start of the 2025 season.
“The approach that Dave Stewart and his team are taking in Nashville is exactly what baseball needs,” Mattingly told USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale. I am pleased that the big leagues are actively addressing these important issues. We need more diversity in the game, from the top down.”
Extension?
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred this summer opened the door to a near-term expansion process. He had specifically stated during an interview with the ESPN network that he wanted 32 teams.
For his part, Mattingly was hired by the Jays on November 30, succeeding John Schneider, who himself replaced manager Charlie Montoyo when he was fired. Previously, Mattingly managed the Miami Marlins for seven seasons and the Los Angeles Dodgers for five years.
The 61-year-old also enjoyed a 14-year career with the New York Yankees, from 1982 to 1995, where he once won the American League’s Most Valuable Player award and was invited to the All-Star Game six times.