The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2026 season expecting stability, contention and another deep postseason run. Instead, the club endured a dramatic managerial change before eventually finding itself back in the playoffs. Now, after another disappointing postseason exit, the biggest question surrounding the organization is whether Don Mattingly will return as manager in 2027.
Mattingly took over as interim manager after the Phillies dismissed Rob Thomson on April 28 following a disastrous 9-19 start. What followed was one of the more impressive turnarounds in the National League. Under Mattingly, Philadelphia went 79-55, a .590 winning percentage, and recovered enough to finish the regular season 88-74 and claim a postseason berth.
Yet the Phillies’ early playoff exit has left Mattingly’s future uncertain.
Philadelphia was eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Wild Card Series, losing the decisive Game 3 by a 6-2 score. The defeat ended the Phillies’ season and immediately intensified questions about whether the organization should retain Mattingly or pursue another manager.
Phillies stars are backing Mattingly
One of the strongest arguments in Mattingly’s favor is the support he has received from some of the most important players in the clubhouse.
Trea Turner, who experienced one of the most difficult seasons of his career, spoke positively about Mattingly’s leadership. Turner described him as calm and approachable, particularly when discussing hitting and other aspects of the game. That relationship could be particularly meaningful because Turner was one of the veterans who struggled considerably during the season.
J.T. Realmuto also expressed his admiration for Mattingly. The veteran catcher acknowledged that the final decision belongs to the organization, but made it clear that the players appreciated their interim manager.
Kyle Schwarber offered another important endorsement. He pointed to Mattingly’s ability to help the team move past the turmoil surrounding Thomson’s firing and maintain an even-keeled approach during difficult stretches.
Those comments matter because managerial success is not determined solely by tactics. A manager must also establish credibility, communicate with veteran players and maintain a clubhouse capable of responding when a season begins to go off course.
Mattingly appears to have accomplished much of that.
The turnaround makes his case difficult to ignore
When Mattingly inherited the Phillies, the team was in serious trouble. A 9-19 record had put Philadelphia in an enormous hole, and the decision to remove Thomson suggested that the organization believed something fundamental needed to change.
Mattingly’s arrival did not magically solve every problem. The Phillies still had weaknesses, particularly in their bullpen and roster depth. But the team became significantly more competitive.
The Phillies eventually climbed back into the National League playoff picture and secured their fifth consecutive postseason appearance. Mattingly’s .590 winning percentage with Philadelphia was the best regular-season winning percentage he had produced in any of his 13 seasons as a major-league manager.
That statistic strengthens the argument that Mattingly deserves more than an interim opportunity.
He inherited a broken situation and helped repair it.
The counterargument, however, is that the ultimate goal in Philadelphia is not simply reaching October. The Phillies have built a roster capable of competing for a World Series, and another early postseason elimination raises questions about whether changes are necessary.
The Alex Cora factor
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to Mattingly returning is not his performance but the possibility of another manager becoming available.
Alex Cora has long been connected to the Phillies because of his relationship with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The two previously worked together with the Boston Red Sox and won the 2018 World Series.
According to reports, Dombrowski initially offered Cora the interim managerial position after Thomson’s dismissal, but Cora declined. Mattingly subsequently accepted the job.
That history makes Cora an obvious name whenever Philadelphia’s managerial position is discussed.
Reports have suggested that Cora could be the leading candidate if the Phillies decide to move on from Mattingly. At the same time, Cora has not committed to taking the job, and the managerial situation remains fluid.
Therefore, Mattingly’s biggest competition may not necessarily be another manager already employed by a team. It could be the possibility of Dombrowski choosing a familiar championship-winning partner.
Why Philadelphia could still keep Mattingly
Despite the speculation, there are compelling reasons for the Phillies to retain Mattingly.
First, he already understands the clubhouse. He knows the personalities of the roster, understands the expectations surrounding the organization and has established relationships with several of the team’s biggest stars.
Second, replacing him would mean starting over with another manager after the organization has already gone through a major transition.
Third, the Phillies’ postseason failure cannot reasonably be blamed entirely on Mattingly.
Philadelphia’s roster had significant weaknesses, especially in pitching depth and the bullpen. The team also spent much of the season fighting simply to secure a playoff position. By the time October arrived, the margin for error was extremely small.
The Phillies ultimately lost to Atlanta despite making the postseason. That disappointment is real, but changing managers does not automatically solve the deeper roster problems.
Why Mattingly could still be replaced
On the other hand, Philadelphia may believe that a different voice is necessary.
The organization has reached the postseason repeatedly but has struggled to convert those appearances into sustained October success. Another early exit could encourage Dombrowski and ownership to make significant changes.
Mattingly also remains officially an interim manager. Although his performance made a strong case for promotion, the Phillies never promised him the permanent job.
After the loss to Atlanta, Mattingly refused to speculate about his future, emphasizing that his priority was what would be best for the Phillies.
More recent reporting has indicated that Philadelphia may ultimately move on from him, potentially offering him another role within the organization rather than allowing him to continue as manager.
So, will Don Mattingly return?
At this point, the answer appears to be unlikely, but not impossible.
The players clearly appreciate Mattingly. Turner, Realmuto and Schwarber have all spoken positively about his leadership, while the team’s dramatic improvement under his watch gives him a legitimate argument for the permanent position.
However, the Phillies’ front office may have a different vision for 2027. Cora’s connection with Dombrowski, combined with the organization’s desire to take the next step toward championship contention, could ultimately work against Mattingly.
There is also an important distinction between being a successful interim manager and being the manager the organization believes can lead it to a World Series.
Mattingly proved that he could stabilize the Phillies. He proved he could communicate with their stars. He proved he could guide a struggling team back into playoff contention.
Now, the question is whether Philadelphia believes he is the person to take the team beyond simply making the postseason.
For now, the strongest evidence suggests that Mattingly’s tenure as Phillies manager may be nearing its conclusion, despite the support he has received from the clubhouse. Reports indicate Philadelphia is leaning toward parting ways with him, although the situation remains subject to the organization’s final decision.
If Mattingly does leave, however, he should depart Philadelphia with considerable credit. He inherited a team heading toward disaster and helped turn its season around.
The Phillies may ultimately decide that another manager is needed.
But the players’ message has been unmistakable: Don Mattingly earned their respect, and his brief time in Philadelphia was far more successful than the circumstances surrounding his appointment suggested it would be.
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