Ken Rosenthal gets 100% real on Alex Cora turning down Phillies’ job offer

The Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday, after a rough start to the season. It was assumed by many that Alex Cora would be getting the job to replace Thomson. Cora was also fired recently, from his post as manager of the Boston Red Sox.

That didn’t happen though, as Cora reportedly turned down the Phillies job. Major League Baseball insider Ken Rosenthal is giving his two cents as to why that happened.

“It’s a hard thing to do in the middle of a season. End of the season, it’s a different story,” Rosenthal said on Foul Territory.

Alex Cora's decision not to take the Phillies managerial position came down to "family reasons and simply not being ready right now," says @Ken_Rosenthal.

"It's a hard thing to do in the middle of a season. End of the season, it's a different story." pic.twitter.com/UdrIJawSyw

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 28, 2026

Cora has a relationship though with Dave Dombrowski, who is the president of baseball operations for the Phillies. Dombrowski used to work with Cora for the Red Sox.

“If this had happened….the reason to do it would be to go work for a guy that he is so close with,” Rosenthal said. “That’s the only reason….It came down to family reasons, and him simply not being ready right now.”

The Phillies now have Don Mattingly working for them as interim manager. It is unclear if Cora would be considered again for the full-time position heading into the 2027 season.

Phillies hope to salvage the season

Philadelphia underwent a brutal 10-game losing streak already this season, under Thomson. Mattingly is handed a tough task, as the Phillies are last in the National League East right now.

Philadelphia’s players are positive they can turn it around.

“We’ve gone through those types of spells through different years,” Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber said, per MLB.com. “Right now, it just kind of feels like we’re all grinding together. Obviously, you don’t want to be in these positions, but I feel like the more that we keep coming together, the more that we’re going to find a way out of it. The more that you keep building, building, building to it, it will be that much sweeter at the end of it. But it doesn’t mean that it’s guaranteed. No guarantee. You’ve just got to keep working for it.”

The Phillies play the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, to start a three-game series. Philadelphia has now lost 11 of their last 12 contests.

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