TORONTO, ON – APRIL 20: Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays runs to the dugout prior to a game against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre on April 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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The Toronto Blue Jays enjoyed an offseason of veteran additions after reaching Game 7 of the World Series last year.
The team brought in frontline starter Dylan Cease, submarine reliever Tyler Rogers, reigning KBO MVP Cody Ponce and Japanese All-Star Kazuma Okamoto, among others, to fortify a roster that is among the favorites to win the American League pennant once again.
But the Blue Jays’ offseason was also marked by some significant losses. First and foremost, that was the departure of longtime shortstop Bo Bichette, who took a three-year, $126 million deal to join the New York Mets.
Toronto Blue Jays Lose Legendary Hitter To Philadelphia Phillies Staff
And the team’s coaching staff suffered a significant loss as well, as New York Yankees legend Don Mattingly left the dugout to join the Philadelphia Phillies, where his son, Preston, is a member of the front office.
“The Phillies had been waiting only for Mattingly’s contract to expire with the Blue Jays — he had been Toronto’s bench coach the past three years — to make it official,” MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki and Paul Casella reported. “Mattingly not only had a Hall of Fame-quality playing career with the Yankees, but he has extensive managerial and coaching experience. It should bring a new level of clubhouse credibility to the Phillies’ coaching staff.”
Mattingly is already making his presence felt with the Phillies as he’s been working with superstar slugger Bryce Harper at Spring Training.
Though Harper is a 15-year big-league veteran in his own right, with a wealth of experience and a keen sense of what he needs to improve to have continued success next season, he noted that Mattingly has a lot to offer his new team.
“I mean, it’s Donnie Baseball,” Harper told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber. “I grew up a Yankee fan, so knowing he played first base in the Bronx and had a great, storied career in the Bronx and was one of the best first basemen to ever do it, I have such a respect for him and the way he went about it.”
Philadelphia Phillies Slugger Bryce Harper Points To Bo Bichette’s Final Toronto Blue Jays Season
In addition to Mattingly’s prolific playing career, Harper pointed to Bichette’s success with the Blue Jays last season as evidence that Mattingly’s tutelage can help prolific hitters.
“I think they really came together, and you saw Bo have the great year that he had,” Harper added, per Lauber. “Probably learned a lot of stuff from Donnie and what he does. It’s no coincidence.”
Bichette batted .311 and served as Major League Baseball’s total hits leader before he went down with a late-season injury last year. Whether or not Bichette can mimic that success with the Mets is an open question, but for Harper, a big portion of his success last year can be credited to Mattingly. And now the Phillies star is looking for a similar boost from his new coach going into a pivotal season of his own.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/02/26/phillies-bryce-harper-sends-bo-bichette-message-after-blue-jays-exit/
