Alex Cora isn’t planning to return to MLB in 2027, and that news is hitting Philadelphia like a gut punch, potentially forcing the Phillies to run it back with Don Mattingly as manager and Dave Dombrowski leading the front office. After a 2026 season that left fans completely deflated, this is the last thing anyone in the City of Brotherly Love wanted to hear.
Philly’s Nightmare Season Ends, But the Hangover Lingers
Let’s be real, the 2026 season for the Philadelphia Phillies was a total letdown. Yeah, they clawed their way into the playoffs and had a decent run in the middle of the season, and sure, some guys hit individual milestones. But the bottom line? Another early playoff exit, straight out of the Wild Card round, courtesy of the Atlanta Braves. After that loss, you’d think sweeping changes were a no-brainer for the organization, right? That’s what everyone expected. But Matt Gelb and Jayson Stark over at The Athletic spilled the beans: Cora’s just not coming back to the big leagues next year, and that changes *everything* for Philly.
The Domino Effect of a Declined Offer
So, here’s the kicker: Mattingly was already Dombrowski’s second choice for manager back in April, when Rob Thomson got the boot. Dombrowski originally wanted Cora then, but he turned down the gig. Now, with the season wrapped up, it looks like Cora is saying “no thanks” once more. What does that mean for the Phillies? Dombrowski, who by the way looks locked into his president of baseball operations job and is probably signing a long-term extension, is now in the position of turning to his second option for the manager spot for the second time in a year. Imagine that. Running it back with Mattingly and Dombrowski? You can bet that’s going to make a lot of Phillies fans absolutely furious. There have been plenty of concerns about running it back with the *players* in recent years, so doing it with the manager and the front office head? That’s just asking for an unpopular situation. Change feels absolutely necessary for this team to actually get back into the postseason and finally make a deep run.
As of right now, it’s looking like Phillies fans are stuck bracing for a repeat of 2026, with Dombrowski at the helm of baseball operations and Mattingly calling the shots in the dugout. Looks like the drama for Philly fans is just getting started, and it doesn’t look pretty.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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