Phillies Fire Rob Thomson, Name Mattingly Interim Manager

The Philadelphia Phillies parted ways with manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday after a brutal 9-19 start to the 2026 season, and the organization already has a familiar face lined up to steady the ship. Thomson has been with the Phillies since 2018 and took over as interim manager in 2022 after the organization axed Joe Girardi.

Philadelphia Phillies Fire Rob Thomson, Promote Don Mattingly

According to ESPN, former bench coach Don Mattingly will take over as interim manager. The move also writes a new chapter in baseball history — Mattingly's son, Preston Mattingly, is the Phillies' general manager. ESPN noted the pairing "is believed to be the first father-son manager-GM combination in baseball history."

Before landing on Mattingly, the Phillies looked into another name that just hit the market. ESPN's Buster Olney reported that Philadelphia "did background work on the availability of Alex Cora," who was fired by the Boston Red Sox days earlier following their own disastrous opening month.

A reunion of sorts with Cora didn't materialize, though. Sources told Olney that "the timing was not right for Cora," which leaves the door cracked for a possible offseason pursuit but closes it for now. For the rest of 2026, this is Mattingly's dugout.

Phillies and Mets Both Stuck in the MLB Cellar

Mattingly inherits a team in real trouble. The Phillies and division rival New York Mets are tied for the worst record in Major League Baseball. It's a stunning turn for two franchises carrying championship expectations. Two of the sport's biggest payrolls are both sitting 10 games under .500.

Philadelphia may target Cora again in the offseason, but for now, the Phillies' focus is on Mattingly.