The Philadelphia Phillies got a hit on the chin on Thursday with a 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series. Don Mattingly’s future became an immediate question after the defeat.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Mattingly is not expected to return as the Phillies’ manager in 2027. As per his reports, the Phillies are expected to announce a mutual parting of ways and could offer Mattingly an advisory role within the organization.
“Mattingly, who managed the Phillies for five months, will be gracefully dismissed, likely in the coming week,” Nightingale wrote. “The Phillies will announce the decision as a mutual parting, and will offer Mattingly the chance to stay in the organization, perhaps as an advisor, where his son, Preston, is the GM under Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations.”
However, Nightingale thinks the decision now comes up to the Phillies front office to consider Alex Cora as the ultimate option.
Article Continues Below“Alex Cora, who was fired by the Red Sox in April, checks all of the boxes,” the reporter wrote. “The truth is that Dombrowski wanted Cora all along, and offered him the Phillies’ job before he even fired Thomson. Cora ultimately passed, and the Phillies turned to Mattingly, who was their bench coach.”
Mattingly took over as interim manager after the Phillies fired Rob Thomson during a difficult start to the season. Philadelphia was 9-19 when Mattingly assumed the role and finished the regular season 79-55 under his leadership, reaching the postseason.
Mattingly, 65, was asked about his future after Thursday’s loss but did not want to discuss whether he would return as the full-time manager.