President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski and the Philadelphia Phillies are looking for the team’s next manager for the 2027 season. Recently, the Phillies were told no again by former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora because he is taking time off again. There are some interesting names to know in this managerial search and in fixing other big issues for the Phillies.
Three Names to Watch in Phillies’ Manager Search
1. Don Mattingly
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly never had his tag removed and is being widely considered after Cora said no again to the manager job for the Phillies. This season, after a 9-19 start and taking over for former manager Rob Thomson, Mattingly guided the team to an 88-74 record and
made the postseason for the fifth time since 2022. One would think Mattingly could be the favorite for the job. Dombrowski will probably have to consider hiring Mattingly.
Before taking the interim manager job with the Phillies, Mattingly was the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2022 to 2025. Prior to that, Mattingly was the manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2011-2015 and then the Miami Marlins from 2016-2022. Also with the Marlins, Mattingly was named NL manager of the year in 2020.
Giving the full-time manager job to Mattingly would almost be a no-brainer for Dombrowski, but there are stronger candidates to consider as well.
2. Dave Martinez
Dave Martinez managed the
Washington Nationals from 2018 to 2025 and was able to pick up a World Series victory during Martinez’s time with the Nationals in 2019.
Martinez would be an interesting candidate for the Phillies as he is familiar with players such as shortstop
Trea Turner, who last played for Martinez in 2021.
Before managing the Nationals, Martinez was the bench coach under Joe Maddon and the
Chicago Cubs from 2015-2017 before again replacing then-former manager for the Nationals, Dusty Baker, who the team parted ways with after the 2017 season. Martinez would be an interesting choice for the Phillies if the team were to go down that route.
Martinez would definitely stabilize this group, as the team itself does need an overall new voice in the clubhouse, as the team has been suffering from earlier playoff series losses going back to 2024 and has not won a playoff series since 2023.
The drawback here would be the veteran-heavy team and buying into another manager’s vision and plan for the team as well.
3. David Ross
David Ross has been out of managing a team since the 2023 season, and the last team Ross managed was the Cubs from 2020-2023, taking the Cubs to the postseason only once during his three-year tenure. Ross’s best season with the Cubs was 83-79, and they finished second in the National League Central.
That success came in his final year with the team in 2023, after which Ross was released soon after the season concluded.
Not exactly the strongest candidate, but one the Phillies should consider as they continue the search for their new manager. CBS Sports writer Mike Axisa said: “Ross checks the ‘former catcher’ box that everyone seems to love when seeking a new manager.”
Ross would definitely be an interesting choice for the franchise and could help the team out long term.
The Last Word
Overall, the Phillies do need a manager who can help this team get over the hump of losing early in the playoffs to teams such as the Dodgers,
who are making deep runs. Fixing a lot of the team’s fundamental flaws that have plagued the team these past couple of years is crucial, whether it’s throwing errors or fielding errors, or just being able to do the little things right. The new manager must help them in those areas and start holding the team more accountable. Otherwise, the same issues will pop up if these changes are not established within the clubhouse.
Main Image: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
