The Philadelphia Phillies made a clear choice on Wednesday. They kept Don Mattingly as their manager for two more years. This deal runs through the 2028 season. The team announced the news on Wednesday morning after Mattingly guided them to the postseason as an interim hire. It is a practical move that values experience over a risky search for a new name. In a league where managers get fired fast, this stability matters.
Mattingly turned the season around quickly. He took over just 28 games into the year after Rob Thomson was fired. The team had started 9-19 and looked like a mess. Under Mattingly, they went 79-55. They finished with an 88-74 record overall. CBS Sports reported that the team avoided a near collapse in the final week to clinch the last wild-card spot. That turnaround proves he can handle the pressure. The Phillies did not need to look far for the right leader.
Why They Passed On Alex Cora
The front office tried to hire someone else first. Team president Dave Dombrowski wanted Alex Cora. He was the former Boston Red Sox manager. Dombrowski reached out to Cora twice. He made the offer once when Thomson was fired in April. He tried again after the season ended. Both times, Cora said no. ESPN noted that Dombrowski was rebuffed twice. This left the Phillies with no other option but to stick with Mattingly. Sometimes the best hire is the one you already have.
There is a family twist here that helps the team. Don Mattingly’s son, Preston, is the general manager for the Phillies. This is believed to be the first time a father and son have held these two top jobs on the same MLB ballclub. They work well together. They know the roster better than any outsider ever could. With an uncertain offseason ahead, that trust is worth more than a fresh resume.
Questions About the Aging Lineup
The job is not easy for the next two years. The Phillies have a core that is getting older. Stars like Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Trea Turner are in their prime but the clock is ticking. The starting rotation is strong with Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesus Luzardo. But the offense needs help. Several key players are entering free agency, including Alec Bohm and Luis Arraez. The team will need to find a new right fielder if Harper moves to first base again.
Mattingly knows these players well. He has been in the dugout for 23 straight seasons. He managed the Dodgers and the Marlins before this. He won NL Manager of the Year in 2020. Both he and prior managers guided the Phillies to five consecutive playoff appearances. They have yet to win a championship since reaching the 2022 World Series. They have been eliminated further from that goal each year since. This deal gives them a chance to fix the roster without changing the leader. That is a smart bet for a team that wants to win now.
Dombrowski and Mattingly will speak to the press on Thursday. The team will not wait to explain their plan. They have a lockout expected to begin in December. The clock is already ticking on the winter meetings. Mattingly is back in the dugout to lead the charge. The Phillies are betting on the man who turned their season around.
