Overview
- President Dave Dombrowski said the Phillies and Don Mattingly have mutual interest and have held discussions but no agreement is finalized.
- At the Winter Meetings, Dombrowski described the club as hopeful, while multiple reports characterize a deal as close even without a team announcement.
- Manager Rob Thomson publicly endorsed Mattingly as a strong fit based on his experience and their prior overlap in the Yankees organization.
- Mattingly, 64, is a former AL MVP who managed the Dodgers and Marlins and most recently served as the Blue Jays’ bench coach before stepping away after their World Series run.
- The Phillies are reshaping their staff by moving Mike Calitri to field coordinator and seeking a bench coach with managerial experience, with Dombrowski downplaying concerns about Mattingly potentially working alongside his son, GM Preston Mattingly.