Don Mattingly appears ready to step into a full-time managerial role with the Phillies after serving as the interim manager at the end of the 2026 season. This comes after Alex Cora turned down the position for the second time, as reported by The Athletic.
Cora had previously declined the offer when the Phillies promoted Mattingly in late April following the dismissal of Rob Thomson due to a rough start to the season.
According to Jon Heyman from The Post, Mattingly has a strong chance of remaining with the team as their manager moving into the 2027 season. This decision may be somewhat unexpected, especially since it seemed like the franchise was exploring other options.
After the Phillies’ early exit from the playoffs against the Braves, there were rumors that Mattingly would be “gracefully dismissed” from his role but would have the chance to transition to an advisory position.
Despite this uncertainty, it turns out Mattingly still has a contract for 2027, which aligns with the bench coach role he accepted before the 2026 season.
The organization, led by baseball operations chief Dave Dombrowski, had aimed to bring Cora back, considering their previous success together with the Red Sox. However, Cora opted against a quick return for personal reasons, as reported by Heyman.
With a possible lockout on the horizon, the Phillies decided to keep Mattingly on board rather than risk complications from hiring a new manager amidst potential communication challenges.
Interestingly, Mattingly’s son, Preston, holds the position of general manager for the Phillies.
Taking over a struggling team that began the year 9-19, Mattingly steered the Phillies to a record of 79-55, helping them secure the third NL wild-card spot.
In July, Mattingly expressed his desire to stay on as manager if given the chance, indicating enthusiasm for the role.
The team’s disappointing postseason performance has left fans concerned, especially given the pattern of struggles over the past few years following their 2022 World Series loss.
In the last four seasons, the Phillies have faced early playoff exits, losing in the NLCS, NLDS, and most recently, the Wild Card round. There are growing concerns about the aging roster and the depth of the lineup beyond key players like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Now, it will be Mattingly’s challenge to maximize the potential of this group.
