We now know who the Phillies manager for the rest of this already beleaguered 2026 season will be, as Don Mattingly is serving in the interim role following the dismissal of Rob Thomson. But quickly after reports of Thomson’s firing hit the internet, more reports linking the Phillies to recently fired Red Sox manager Alex Cora that began over the weekend began to resurface. It was first Tuesday by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that the Phillies officially offered the job to Cora, but he declined. That
report and many after it were confirmed by Dave Dombrowski himself, who said in his press conference that Cora was offered the job Sunday morning, but Cora opted to spend the rest of this summer with his family.
So, the Phillies are Don Mattingly’s team for the remainder of 2026. But anything after that is completely up in the air. Mattingly had previously asserted when he took the Phillies bench coach job that he believed that he didn’t have the energy to be a manager again. Mattingly, who turned 65 last week, hasn’t been a full-time manager since 2022 when he led the Miami Marlins to a 69-93 record.
However, it does certainly appear that Alex Cora is the favorite to be in the dugout when the Phillies begin the 2027 season. Cora was fired last week by the Boston Red Sox who are off to their own dismal start. Cora, who previously worked under Dombrowski in Boston, had been the manager in Boston since 2018 with the exception of 2020. He was suspended for the entirety of the pandemic season for his central role in the 2017 Houston Astros sign stealing scandal when he was serving as bench coach under A.J. Hinch. Cora also won the 2018 World Series in his first year as manager with the Red Sox under Dombrowski. If Cora decides to be manage again by the time this season ends, he figures to be one of the hottest available candidates this offseason.
So, who will be the Phillies manager on Opening Day 2027? Will Dombrowski get his man with Cora? Will Mattingly perform well enough and get talked into coming back? Or is there another mystery candidate that you feel confident will be at the helm for the Phillies by then?
