The Philadelphia Phillies have parted ways with manager Rob Thomson after the club’s 9-19 beginning left a preseason National League East hopeful tied for the worst record in baseball. Bench coach Don Mattingly has been named interim manager for the rest of the year, with the decision coming only days after the Boston Red Sox removed longtime manager Alex Cora and much of their staff.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the organization appreciated Thomson’s work and character but believed a different presence was necessary. Dombrowski described Thomson as hardworking and conscientious while explaining that a new direction and clubhouse atmosphere were needed.
The dismissal came with unusual speed. Philadelphia started 1-3, briefly recovered by winning five of six to move to 6-4, then unraveled. A stretch that included losing four of six was followed by a 10-game skid, dropping the Phillies 10 games under .500 for the first time since 2017 and into a battle with the struggling New York Mets near the bottom of the division.
Only 28 games into the campaign, Thomson’s firing became one of the earliest managerial exits in recent memory, especially striking because it happened just months after he signed an extension through the 2027 season.
Thomson’s tenure included a pennant and multiple division crowns
Thomson, 62, originally assumed control in June 2022 after Joe Girardi was dismissed. Philadelphia went 65-46 under his leadership that year, earning the final National League wild-card berth before making an unexpected run to the franchise’s first pennant since 2009.
That postseason surge ended with a six-game World Series defeat to the Houston Astros, but it established Thomson’s credibility. In the following season, the Phillies again advanced deep into October, reaching the National League Championship Series from another wild-card position.
The club then captured consecutive NL East titles, and last year’s 96-win campaign marked Philadelphia’s best full-season total since 2011. Thomson also received Manager of the Year consideration in 2022, 2024, and 2025, finishing third in voting last season.
Across his time in charge, Thomson guided the Phillies to the playoffs in each of his first four years, secured two division championships, won one pennant, and compiled a 355-270 record.
Dombrowski explored alternatives before making the move
Dombrowski revealed that he approached Alex Cora about the Phillies’ managerial opening on Sunday, before Thomson’s dismissal was finalized. According to Dombrowski, Cora declined the opportunity in order to remain home with his family.
The connection between Dombrowski and Cora dates back to their successful partnership with Boston. Dombrowski hired Cora as Red Sox manager in October 2017, and together they won the World Series in 2018.
Their longstanding relationship reportedly remains strong, which made Cora an immediate consideration as Philadelphia weighed a leadership change.
Don Mattingly steps in as Phillies seek a reset
Don Mattingly, 65, will now attempt to steady Philadelphia for the remainder of the season. His previous managerial experience includes stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2011-15 and the Miami Marlins from 2016-22, producing an overall career record of 889-950.
Before joining the Phillies, Mattingly spent the 2023 through 2025 seasons as bench coach with the Toronto Blue Jays and was part of their American League pennant-winning staff last season.
Philadelphia also reshaped its coaching structure beyond the top role. Third base coach Dusty Wathan has been elevated to bench coach, while Triple-A skipper Anthony Contreras moves up to become third base coach.
The front office includes another Mattingly connection as well, with Don Mattingly’s son, Preston Mattingly, serving as the Phillies’ general manager under Dombrowski.