There is a chance Don Mattingly and the New York Yankees could part company today, but perhaps not permanently.

According to a story in Sunday's Indianapolis Star, which quoted unidentified sources, it was reported that Mattingly and the Yankees would announce today that the free agent first baseman will not re-sign with the Yankees or anyone else between now and the start of the season.

The source said Mattingly would let the season begin without him so that he could try retirement. But if he discovers he misses baseball, he would return either during the 1996 season or the 1997 season.

ESPN had a similar report during Sunday night's SportsCenter.

Mattingly, a 19th-round draft pick out of Memorial High School in 1979, ranks seventh on the Yankees' all-time batting average list at .307.

He is also second in doubles (442), fifth in hits (2,153), seventh in games played (1,783), seventh in home runs (222) and eighth in runs batted in (1,099).

The 34-year-old Mattingly has won nine Gold Gloves and is a six-time American League all-star. He won the 1985 Most Valuable Player Award.

Last season, Mattingly batted .288 with seven homers and 49 RBIs.

Copyright© 1995 The Evansville Courier, a Scripps Howard newspaper & The Associated Press