Philadelphia’s front office has got its sights locked on Alex Cora to take over as manager after the 2026 season. Get this: USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is reporting that the Phillies are still fully expecting to name Cora their manager once this season wraps up. There’s just *one* crazy, high-stakes condition that could stop it, and it’s a total long shot: the Phillies win the World Series.
Philly’s Managerial Rollercoaster: From Thomson to Mattingly to Cora?
Man, what a ride it’s been for the Phillies this year. They kicked off 2026 by firing manager Rob Thomson super early, probably because a brutal 9-19 start to the year is just unacceptable, right? Don Mattingly stepped in to pick up the pieces, and things have totally turned around since he took the reins. But even with Mattingly making moves, the Phillies clearly have their eyes on Alex Cora for the long haul. They tried to bring in the ex-Boston Red Sox manager immediately after Thomson got the boot, but Cora played it cool, holding off until the offseason. Now, according to Nightengale, that plan for Cora to take over is still on track, unless something truly historic happens.
A World Series or Cora, Pick Your Poison (or Your Dream)
So, what’s the big “unless”? A World Series berth or title. Nightengale straight up says, “Alex Cora, who turned down the job when Rob Thomson was fired, is expected to be the Phillies’ manager next year barring a World Series berth or title.” Think about that for a second. Winning the whole darn thing is the *only* way Mattingly stays. The Phillies aren’t even guaranteed to make the playoffs, but if they get there, they’ve got a realistic shot. They’re stacked with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo in a “fantastic three-man rotation” for the postseason. Plus, Aaron Nola’s been turning it around, Jhoan Duran is closing games, and that revamped offense? Yeah, there’s definitely some hope in Philly. Sure, it’s gonna take a ton of stuff going right for them to win it all, but it’s not impossible if they make the dance.
This whole situation puts Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, in a wild spot. He clearly wants to reunite with Cora. But if Mattingly leads this team to a World Series title, how do you even begin to tell the guy who just won it all that his time is up? It would be incredibly hard to just walk away from an interim manager who delivered the ultimate prize. While they *could* still hire Cora even after a championship, a World Series win would definitely make the Phillies’ brass pause about bringing in Cora as the new manager. It’s truly a win-win for Mattingly, or at least for the fans who want to see a championship parade.
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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