The Philadelphia Phillies just made it official: Don Mattingly is their full-time manager, locking him down with a contract through the 2028 season. This isn’t just dropping an interim tag; it’s a huge vote of confidence after a roller-coaster 2026 season that saw them claw their way back into contention and snag an NL playoff spot.
From Bench Coach to Playoff Hero
What a wild ride it was, right? Mattingly started 2026 as the bench coach, chilling behind manager Rob Thomson. Thomson, for his part, had a solid run, even taking the Phillies to the World Series in 2022 and never missing the playoffs as manager since taking over in 2022. But when the Phillies stumbled out of the gate with a brutal 9-19 record in 2026, Thomson was out, and Mattingly stepped in as interim manager. And boy, did things heat up fast! Under Mattingly, the team immediately caught fire, putting up a 79-55 record, finishing the season at 88-74, and barely avoiding a final-week collapse to clinch the NL’s final playoff spot. It was a hell of a comeback, even if their playoff run ended quickly, getting bounced by the Braves in three games in the Wild Card Series.
The Alex Cora Drama and a Family Affair
Turns out, this wasn’t an obvious move the whole time. The Phillies were actually sniffing around ex-Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who got fired by Boston back in April. They even offered him the managerial gig when Thomson got canned in April. But Cora, despite having a strong relationship with club president Dave Dombrowski, turned them down earlier this month. Talk about drama! So, with Cora out of the picture, it makes sense they’d stick with the guy who literally saved their season. Oh, and get this, it’s a family affair: the Phillies general manager is Preston Mattingly, Don’s son. Apparently, that’s a first in MLB history, which is pretty wild to think about. Don Mattingly, 65, has been around the block, too. He led the Dodgers from 2011-15, winning three NL West titles but never getting to the World Series. Then he managed the Marlins from 2016-22, even making the playoffs and winning NL Manager of the Year in 2020. Most recently, he was a bench coach for the Blue Jays in 2025, helping them win the AL pennant. The dude knows how to get to the postseason, which the Phillies have done five straight years now. Though, let’s be real, they’ve been going backward: World Series in 2022, NLCS in 2023, NLDS in 2024 and 2025, then the Wild Card Series this past season.
So, what’s next? The Phillies are staring down an uncertain offseason with a lockout expected in December, and let’s face it, that roster is getting older with less depth than before. But with Mattingly officially at the helm for 2027 and 2028, at least one big question mark is settled. Now, can he get that aging core to reverse the playoff trend and make a deeper run? We’ll be watching to see how this all shakes out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply