The Philadelphia Phillies have had three 90-win seasons in a row. Thanks to manager Rob Thomson and the team Philadelphia has assembled, they have had some playoff runs.
It might not be enough to save Thomson’s job, and the Phillies could hire a big name.
Jake Elman of FanSided predicts that if the Phillies’ season doesn’t go as planned, Thomson could be replaced by three-time MVP Albert Pujols.
But why would the Phillies even do this?
While the playoff runs the Phillies have had are impressive, there’s one thing missing. That is a World Series title.
Why Would the Philadelphia Phillies Part Ways With Thomson?
Thompson turns 63 this year. While that isn’t exactly old for a manager, it isn’t young either.
The league is starting to trend towards hiring younger managers who were former players. Will Venable, Stephen Vogt, Craig Stammen and others are examples of this.
Thomson has yet to win a World Series in Philadelphia. While he’s won an NL pennant and gone to another NLCS, it just might not be enough for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
The pressure is on for the Phillies as their stars age. Elman thinks that could be a factor.
“Phillies manager Rob Thomson turns 63 in August, and he’s under contract through the 2027 season,” Elman wrote. “Could the two sides move in another direction if this season doesn’t go as planned? If so, Pujols is absolutely worth interviewing, though he’d arrive in Philadelphia under immense pressure, especially with several veterans — most notably Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, and Zack Wheeler — entering the back half of their careers.”
Harper is entering his age-33 season and 15th overall. Realmuto is about to turn 35. Wheeler may be close to retirement as he nears his age-36 season.
All of these guys are entering the twilight of their careers. So how do the Phillies navigate this?
Enter Pujols.
Why Pujols?
Pujols is an up-and-coming name in manager searches. He was linked in searches during the offseason for the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels jobs. However, his work in the World Baseball Classic put the spotlight on him.
With the Dominican Republic, his impact was noticeable.
“Given his pedigree and his experience in the WBC, we might be closer to ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ as it relates to Pujols earning an MLB managerial job,” Elman wrote.
And if it is a matter of ‘when’, why not go somewhere where he’ll have the star power and spending ability to contend?
Pujols brings a Hall of Fame resume to the fold. As one of the greatest right-handed hitters in the history of the game with 703 home runs, Pujols was one of the all-time greats.
His leadership, however, is what stands out. Players in the WBC have already loved his managerial style, and it could translate to MLB.
If the Phillies falter in 2026, Pujols could be the guy to right the ship.
Phillies Predicted to Part Ways With Thomson, Hire Huge Name