The Philadelphia Phillies have filled their vacant bench role. The team announced on X that they’ve hired Don Mattingly to take on the role.
Welcome to Philly, Don!
Mattingly, 64, served as the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023-25. Following the World Series, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that Mattingly would be moving on.
It’s been an open secret that the Phillies were interested in bringing him in since he left Toronto. His son, Preston, is the general manager of the club, and he has a long-standing friendship with manager Rob Thomson.
Jim Salisbury of PHLY Sports quote tweet Heyman’s report that the Phillies were exploring the idea of bringing in the former manager to be the bench coach. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski confirmed the team’s interest in Mattingly during the Winter Meetings.
He told reporters, including Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer, “It’s not official, but we have really focused on speaking with Don and trying to make that happen, and we’re hopeful that it will.”
Don Mattingly Joins Phillies 2026 Coaching Staff
With Thomson’s decisions in their NLDS loss to the eventual World Champion Dodgers under criticism, a change in the coaching staff felt inevitable. Mattingly replaces Mike Calitri, who’s been reassigned as the organization’s field coordinator. His son, Preston, serves as the club’s general manager.
Mattingly brings 12 years and 1,839 games of managerial experience to the table. He spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2012-16) and seven with the Miami Marlins (2016-2022). That experience should serve as an asset for Thomson, who’s entering his sixth year as the Phillies manager.
Mattingly is familiar with much of the staff in Philadelphia. He worked with Thomson and hitting coach Kevin Long during their time together with the New York Yankees.
“Having known Don for years and having worked closely with him in New York, I know that his knowledge of the game and his character make him a great addition to our tremendous coaching staff,” said Thomson in a press release quoted by MLB Trade Rumors.
It’s also worth noting that Mattingly has a strong relationship with Bo Bichette, from his time as the Blue Jays’ bench coach. The Phillies have been linked to the free-agent shortstop by Heyman.
Phillies’ Expectations for 2026
The Phillies experienced considerable postseason success early in Thomson’s tenure. Stepping in as the interim manager in 2022, he led the club to a Cinderella run to the World Series. The following year, they were one win away from repeating as National League champions. But back-to-back early exits to lower-seeded teams in the division series could have him on the hot seat in 2026.
The Phillies had a three-year run with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto. However, all they have to show for it is one playoff series win. While they were able to retain Schwarber this offseason, it remains unclear whether they’ll bring back Realmuto.
The expectation for 2026 is that the Phillies win the division and make a deep playoff run. Their payroll for the upcoming season is projected at $268.5 million according to Cot’s Contracts, with a luxury tax number of $301.6 million. Only their division rival, the New York Mets, carries a larger number. With such a high payroll, another quick playoff exit could lead to a change in manager next offseason.
Philadelphia Phillies Hire Don Mattingly to Bolster Coaching Staff