Don Mattingly to return as Dodgers manager in 2014

Don Mattingly will manage the Dodgers next season.

“I always thought that,” team President Stan Kasten said. “Absolutely.”

Kasten’s comments were made Wednesday after Mattingly’s agent, Ray Schulte, said Mattingly intended to honor his contract.

Mattingly’s option for the 2014 season vested when the Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves in the National League division series.

Nonetheless, there was widespread speculation about Mattingly’s future after the manager said in a Monday news conference that he might not return. Speaking at length about the disadvantages of being a lame-duck manager, Mattingly seemed to be insinuating that he would come back only if he had a multiyear contract.

Even after Schulte said Mattingly would return, the possibility existed that Mattingly could be fired.

Nonsense, Kasten said.

“I’ve always been a big supporter of his,” Kasten said.

Schulte said Mattingly is still looking for a multiyear deal. While Kasten declined to address that prospect directly, he said, “I’m anticipating a happy ending.”