Don Mattingly’s future as the Phillies manager remains uncertain after Philadelphia’s postseason exit. USA Today initially reported that the club planned a respectful separation, but subsequent reporting said the Phillies had not decided who would manage in 2027.
Mattingly went 79-55 after taking over in April, helping Philadelphia finish 88-74 and reach the postseason. The Phillies lost the National League Wild Card Series to Atlanta, falling 6-2 in Game 3.
Alex Cora’s reported decision to decline the job leaves Philadelphia considering its next move, with the retention of Mattingly still a possibility.
The Phillies are reportedly moving on
Bob Nightengale reported on October 2 that the Phillies planned to part ways with Mattingly as manager while offering him an opportunity to remain with the organization.
Mattingly joined Philadelphia in January as bench coach on a 2-year commitment. His agreement extends into 2027, giving the club an existing relationship to consider alongside its managerial decision.
Subsequent reporting said the Phillies had not settled on their next manager after Alex Cora declined the opportunity.
Mattingly inherited a difficult situation
Philadelphia’s decision is even more surprising when you consider the circumstances of Mattingly’s promotion. The Phillies dismissed Rob Thomson on April 28 after the club opened the season 9-19, leaving Mattingly to take over a team that was already in serious trouble.
Mattingly initially had no plans to manage again. When he was hired as a bench coach, he said he had moved beyond his managerial years. The unexpected change came only because baseball operations president Dave Dombrowski asked him to step into the role.
The change produced immediate results. Mattingly eventually led Philadelphia to a 79-55 record as manager, helping the club recover from its disastrous opening month and reach the postseason for the fifth consecutive season.
Mattingly’s regular-season turnaround was significant
The Phillies became a much different team under Mattingly. By July 18, Philadelphia had moved to 55-44 overall and was only 2 games behind Atlanta in the National League East, with a 46-25 record during Mattingly’s tenure.
The turnaround was not enough to secure a division title, however. Philadelphia struggled down the stretch, including a 10-14 September, and eventually finished with the NL’s third Wild Card position. That sent the Phillies to Atlanta for the opening round of the playoffs.
MLB.com noted that Philadelphia had the fourth-best record in baseball from the time Mattingly replaced Thomson through the end of the regular season. That performance is a major reason the reported decision to move on has generated so much discussion around the club.
Players strongly backed Mattingly
Mattingly’s clubhouse support also complicates the reported decision. After the season-ending loss, Aaron Nola said, “We love Don,” while Kyle Schwarber praised Mattingly’s demeanor and ability to help the team move forward after Thomson’s dismissal.
J.T. Realmuto offered perhaps the strongest endorsement. Asked whether Mattingly deserved another opportunity, Realmuto responded emphatically that the manager had done a great job and that the players loved him. Such comments suggest the decision is unlikely to stem from a lack of respect for the clubhouse.
Bryce Harper took a different approach, declining to discuss whether Mattingly should return. His reluctance did not necessarily reflect negatively on Mattingly, but it underscored how sensitive the organization’s next managerial decision could become after another disappointing October.
The playoff exit changed the conversation
Philadelphia’s postseason performance ultimately provided the backdrop for the reported change. The Braves won Game 1 5-3, Philadelphia answered in Game 2, and Atlanta captured the decisive contest 6-2 to advance to the NL Division Series.
Mattingly also faced criticism for his bullpen management in the decisive series. In Game 1, he used closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning, and Duran eventually surrendered Austin Riley’s go-ahead 3-run homer in the eighth.
Still, reducing Philadelphia’s season to individual managerial decisions overlooks the bigger picture. The Phillies had an inconsistent bullpen, dealt with injuries and roster limitations, and needed a late push to secure their postseason position after the difficult start.
Alex Cora reportedly declined the job again
Alex Cora had been a prominent potential replacement because he and Dave Dombrowski worked together during Boston’s 2018 World Series championship season.
Dombrowski offered Cora the Phillies’ managerial job in April, before turning to Mattingly. Cora declined to spend time with his family.
USA Today reported on October 6 that Cora had declined another approach and intended to take the 2027 season off. That leaves Philadelphia evaluating other options, including a possible return for Mattingly.
Mattingly could remain part of Philadelphia
The most intriguing part of the reported decision may be what happens next. Rather than simply ending the relationship, Philadelphia is reportedly prepared to offer Mattingly another role within the organization, potentially allowing the club to use his managerial experience in a different capacity.
Mattingly himself left the door open to remaining involved in baseball. After the Wild Card loss, he said he loved being in Philadelphia and was comfortable with whatever the organization decided, while emphasizing that he wanted the Phillies to do what was best for their future.
That approach could make a transition easier for everyone involved. Mattingly has managed the Dodgers and Marlins and brings more than a decade of managerial experience, while Philadelphia could benefit from keeping that perspective without committing to him as its long-term manager.
The decision reflects a bigger Phillies reset
The Phillies now face a broader offseason evaluation. The club reached the playoffs again but failed to advance, continuing a recent pattern in which strong regular seasons have not translated into sustained October success.
Mattingly’s reported departure, therefore, may be only one piece of a larger organizational conversation. Philadelphia must evaluate its roster, bullpen, depth, and leadership as it decides whether the current core can still make a deeper postseason run.
For Mattingly, the situation is unusual. He inherited a 9-19 club, transformed its season and reached the playoffs, yet may still be replaced after the team’s October disappointment. The Phillies appear willing to value his contributions while pursuing a different voice for 2027.
Fun fact: Don Mattingly was the American League MVP in 1985 after hitting .324 with 35 home runs and 145 RBIs for the New York Yankees. He also won a Gold Glove that season, beginning a run that eventually produced 9 Gold Gloves at first base.
TL;DR
- Don Mattingly’s future as Phillies manager remains unresolved.
- Philadelphia went 79-55 under Mattingly after a 9-19 start.
- The Phillies finished 88-74 and lost the NL Wild Card Series to Atlanta.
- An initial report said Mattingly could be offered another organizational role.
- Alex Cora reportedly declined the managerial opportunity, leaving Philadelphia considering other options, including retaining Mattingly.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
