MLB insider speculates Don Mattingly could make big jump with Phillies as struggles mount

New York Yankees legend Don Mattingly might soon find himself thrust into the role of Philadelphia Phillies manager; if he would even accept the offer, that is.

Mattingly, who celebrated his 65th birthday on April 20, is in his first year with the Phillies as a bench coach, and he's working under a manager in Rob Thomson whose seat has begun to heat up to begin the 2026 season.

Thomson's Phillies, expected by upper management to contend (per usual), entered Tuesday with an ugly 8-14 record and a six-game losing streak that contained a sweep at home over the weekend at the hands of their division rival (and current division leaders by a wide margin), the Atlanta Braves. Things only got worse from there.

The national baseball media hasn't wasted any time speculating that Thomson's job is in danger. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal suggested on Monday that the Phillies could replace Thomson with Mattingly this season if the team's record does not improve. The following day, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia pushed back against Rosenthal, reporting Phillies PBO Dave Dombrowski is "not pondering a managerial change".

Salisbury's take thickened the plot, but it doesn't change the fact that Thomson could get himself fired if the losing continues (thereby changing Dombrowski's mind, if we're to take Salisbury's report at face value), nor does it change the fact that Mattingly would be a good candidate to replace Thomson in that scenario.

Yankees icon Don Mattingly brings managing experience to the Phillies

Mattingly's epic life and career in baseball (which was unfairly snubbed by the Hall of Fame) has included managerial roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2011-2015, .551 winning percentage) and Miami Marlins (2016-2022, .430 winning %). He was named National League Manager of the Year in 2020 while with Miami.

He's had other coaching stints with the Yankees (2004-2007) and the Toronto Blue Jays (2023-2025). Mattingly reportedly made a significant impact in Toronto's clubhouse last season during their journey to Game 7 of the World Series. He stepped down from his bench coach role with the Jays just a few days following Game 7 and was hired by the Phillies two months later.

Don Mattingly might not want the Phillies manager job due to family ties

The Phillies' brass does have a potential problem on its hands if its growing desire is to replace Thomson with Mattingly: Mattingly might not want the job. His son, Preston, is currently the general manager of the club, a situation that Rosenthal suggested might be too "awkward" for the elder Mattingly to manage within. Rosenthal mentioned Phillies third-base coach Dusty Wathan as another potential Thomson replacement.

Yankees fans with an appreciation or familiarity with the club's history are sure to monitor the Mattingly situation in Philadelphia. His No. 23 was retired by the Yanks for a slew of accomplishments that, to repeat, were absolutely Hall of Fame worthy. Beyond his nine Gold Gloves, 1984 AL batting champ title, or 1985 AL MVP, Mattingly has simply been a magnificent ambassador for the entire sport over the past 43-plus years.

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