Does Don Mattingly remain the manager of the Marlins in 2020?

Has Don Mattingly earned a new deal as manager of the Miami Marlins?

What does the future hold for Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly? It’s a hot button topic that was addressed briefly, but no decision has been made whether he will be back in the team’s clubhouse next season.

Derek Jeter, the franchise’s CEO, met with the media after he and his former New York Yankees teammate sat down to discuss the current state of the franchise and the future which may or may not involve Donny Baseball. It’s a topic that must be addressed sooner rather than later.

Mattingly has been onboard here in Miami longer than any other manager in team history. The record may not show it this season at 45-76, but this is an improved ball club. Is that enough for Mattingly, who is in the final weeks of his four-year deal in Miami, get another chance to help the organization move forward?

In my opinion, he deserves at least one more season.

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"“Mattingly’s status is one of the major issues the Marlins must address heading into the offseason. Mattingly, 58, agreed to a four-year deal to manage the Marlins in October 2015, when Jeffrey Loria was owner,” Joe Frisaro of MLB.com writes. “In his first two seasons, he had more veteran rosters that included All-Stars like Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna.”"

It looked as though Mattingly would get the Marlin close to the playoffs or they would sneak in the backdoor in 2016, but tragedy hit the team with the death of Jose Fernandez and the wheels came off the track. The Marlins have not been to the postseason since 2003 and have not seen a winning record since 2009. Those are cold, hard facts.

The underlying feeling around baseball and its analysts is the Marlins are a team on the rise despite their record. Recent trades and draft classes will pay off. Their pitching depth in the minors might be the best in Major League Baseball and the players they have acquired recently could provide the power source the franchise needs.

The needle is pointing up for this organization. Mattingly has preached the company line about the changes of the Marlins organization and has been the good soldier as his managerial record has plummeted. What happens now could be played out immediately after the 2019 season.

As a fan of Mattingly and an ardent believer in the growth of this team, keeping Mattingly around in some capacity is imperative to the future of this organization.

"“I’d love to be back, especially if they want you back,” Mattingly said. “You don’t want to be anywhere that you don’t feel like it’s the best situation. You don’t want to get in the way of anything. If they think they want to go in [another] direction, then that’s something you just deal with at the time.”"

Jeter has stated there hasn’t been any discussion yet about Mattingly’s future, that the team has concentrated on the MLB Trade Deadline and is now looked toward the end of the season. He also stated that like every person tied to the operation of the organization, he and his staff will evaluate the future.

There have been no discussions about a contract extension yet, according to Jeter.

"“Sometimes you have to take into consideration, when an organization, when a team is at this point, I think it’s very easy for the fans, it’s very easy for media to look at wins and losses, and that’s how they evaluate the job that someone is doing,” Jeter said. “There’s a lot of things that go into it.“Donnie has done a good job. But then again, we’ve got to sit down, like we do with coaches every year as well, and ask, ‘How can we get better?’”"

The Marlins face the Colorado Rockies in the second game of the series on Saturday night.