Following the dismissal of Rob Thomson, Don Mattingly has stepped in as the interim manager for the rest of the Phillies’ already difficult 2026 season. However, almost as soon as news of Thomson’s firing spread online, rumors resurfaced linking Philadelphia to recently fired Red Sox skipper Alex Cora reports that had first emerged over the weekend. On Tuesday, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Phillies had officially offered the job to Cora, but he turned it down. That information, along with subsequent reports, was confirmed by Dave Dombrowski himself. During his press conference, Dombrowski stated that Cora was offered the position on Sunday morning but chose to spend the remainder of the summer with his family.
For now, the Phillies belong to Don Mattingly for the rest of 2026. But beyond that, the future remains completely uncertain. When Mattingly first accepted the bench coach role, he mentioned feeling that he no longer had the energy to manage full-time. Now 65 years old, Mattingly hasn’t served as a full-time manager since 2022, when he led the Miami Marlins to a 69–93 record.
Still, Alex Cora appears to be the leading candidate to take over the dugout by the start of the 2027 season. Cora was let go by the Red Sox last week amid their own poor start. He previously worked under Dombrowski in Boston and had been the Red Sox manager since 2018, aside from the 2020 season. That year, he was suspended for the entire pandemic-shortened campaign due to his involvement in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in 2017, when he served as A.J. Hinch’s bench coach. Cora also led the Red Sox to a World Series title in his first year as manager in 2018, under Dombrowski. If he decides to return to managing by the end of this season, he’s expected to be one of the most sought-after candidates this offseason.
So, who will be managing the Phillies on Opening Day 2027? Will Dombrowski finally land his target in Cora? Could Mattingly perform well enough to be persuaded to return? Or is there another mystery candidate you believe could end up at the helm for Philadelphia by then?
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