Mattingly will return as Dodgers' skipper

Ending three days of confusion, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Wednesday that Don Mattingly would return as manager in 2014.

Mattingly plans to honor the final year of his contract, according to his agent, and Dodgers president Stan Kasten concurred.

"I never had any thought he would renege on his contract. It was never a question for me," Kasten said.

Mattingly semi-embarrassed team management at a press conference Monday when, with general manager Ned Colletti alongside him, he essentially told reporters that the Dodgers should either sign him to a contract extension or allow him to move on.

"Donnie feels like he was able to say his piece, he did it for the betterment of the organization and now it's out there," agent Ray Schulte said. "Hopefully we can make this a positive and move forward."

Kasten did not say whether he would offer Mattingly a contract extension, but he told the Los Angeles Times, "I'm anticipating a happy ending."

Mattingly said during Monday's press conference that his 2014 contract option kicked in with the Dodgers' first-round playoff series win over the Atlanta Braves. At $1.4 million, Mattingly's option is significantly lower than several other managers.

By comparison, Joe Girardi recently agreed to a new deal with the New York Yankees that would pay him more than $5 million per season.

The Dodgers started off the season slow and found themselves 9 1/2 games out of first place shortly after mid-June before righting their ship and winning 42 of their next 50 games.

They wound up winning the National League West title by 11 games.