By Don Mattingly is staying in the Phillies’ dugout. (Credits: Our Insane Blogs)
The Philadelphia Phillies have taken the “interim” tag off their dugout leader, naming Don Mattingly as their full-time manager on a two-year contract through the 2028 season. Team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced the deal on Wednesday, ending two weeks of uncertainty after the club’s playoff exit.
Mattingly, 65, took over on April 28 after Rob Thomson was fired with the team sitting at 9-19. The former New York Yankees captain steadied the ship immediately, guiding the Phillies to a 79-55 record the rest of the way and a National League wild-card berth secured on the final day of the season.
From Bench Coach to the Big Chair
Mattingly’s rise was remarkably fast. Hired last winter as the Phillies’ bench coach, he had not even managed a full month in that role before being thrust into the manager’s chair. His .590 winning percentage after April 28 ranked fourth in all of baseball, trailing only Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Phillies made a serious push in August, winning 21 of 28 games and chasing the NL East title, but a 10-14 September nearly wrecked everything. They eventually clinched, only to fall to the Atlanta Braves in the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
Rejected Twice, Settled on the Safe Choice
Mattingly was not exactly plan A. Dombrowski pursued former Red Sox manager Alex Cora twice — first in April when Thomson was fired, and again after the season — and was turned down both times. At one point, reports suggested Mattingly might be “gracefully dismissed” and offered an advisory role.
Instead, the club rewarded the man who saved its season. The move also carries a family touch: Mattingly’s son, Preston Mattingly, is the Phillies’ vice president and general manager.
The veteran skipper now prepares for the 2027 season, though one big question hangs over baseball — the current collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, and a work stoppage could cloud parts of next season. For now, though, the Phillies have their man.
Also Read: Dodgers Outspend Entire MLB Final Four — and the Underdogs Are Winning Anyway
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
