The Philadelphia Phillies have retained Don Mattingly as their full-time manager. The team made the announcement Wednesday morning and said Mattingly signed a contract through the 2028 season.
Mattingly entered this past season as the Phillies’ bench coach behind manager Rob Thomson. In 2022, after Joe Girardi was fired and he took the Phillies to the World Series, Thomson didn’t miss a game as a manager. But after a 9-19 start in 2026, Thomson was fired and Mattingly took over as interim manager. Under Mattingly, the Phillies immediately warmed up and crawled back into contention. Under Mattingly, they went 79-55 and finished with an 88-74 record, avoiding a near collapse in the final week of the regular season to clinch the NL final playoff spot. The Phillies were then swept in the Wild Card Series by the Braves in three games.
Hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson are not expected to be retained, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Mattingly never dropped the interim tag during the season, but is under contract through 2027 as the team’s bench coach. The Phillies have been teaming up with Red Sox manager Alex Cora since he was fired by Boston in April and was also offered the manager’s job in April when Thomson was fired. Cora has a strong relationship with club president Dave Dombrowski; But he turned it down again before this month’s Phillies gig.
The Phillies will now keep Mattingly in the dugout, going with a manager known to the roster as an uncertain offseason anchor with the lockout expected to begin in December.
It is interesting to note here that the Phillies general manager is Preston Mattingly, Don’s son. It’s a difficult thing to keep track of because records aren’t always kept, but it’s believed to be the first marriage in an MLB ballclub.
Mattingly, 65, is a big-league manager. He was at the helm of the Dodgers from 2011-15, winning three NL West titles. However, he was released after going 1-3 in the Series with a record in the latter series. He then managed the Marlins from 2016-22, winning the playoffs and the 2020 NL Manager of the Year. His most recent job before joining the Phillies was serving as bench coach for the 2025 Blue Jays, helping them win the AL pennant.
As a matter of fact, the Phillies have made the playoffs five straight seasons, although they have gone back to back. After the 2022 run to the World Series, the NLCS in 2023, the NLDS in 2024 and 2025 before the Wild Card Series this past season.
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Dayne Perry
There is still talent, but the number is increasing and it has a lot less depth. It’s been a big offseason with a lot of questions for Dave Dombrowski.
At least one list can be crossed.