Don Mattingly’s Phillies future remains unresolved after earlier exit report

Update, October 7, 2026: USA Today now reports that Alex Cora has declined Philadelphia’s pursuit and that the Phillies have not decided who will manage in 2027. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that retaining Mattingly remains an option. The earlier departure report below has not been confirmed by an announced move.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported October 2 that Don Mattingly would not return as Phillies manager, a day after Bryce Harper declined to endorse his return following Philadelphia’s Wild Card elimination. Philadelphia’s decision remained unannounced.

Nightengale reported in a Friday column that Mattingly would be dismissed, likely in the coming week. He wrote that the Phillies would announce a mutual parting and offer him a chance to remain in the organization, perhaps as an adviser. The departure was reported but not announced.

Harper declined to answer

After Philadelphia’s 6-2 loss to Atlanta in Game 3 on Thursday, October 1, Harper was asked about Mattingly’s work and whether he wanted him back in 2027.

“I don’t want to answer that question,” Harper said, as MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reported.

The Sporting Page covered Harper’s response after the game. His preference remained unstated. Jim Salisbury noted in his postgame report that Harper has previously deferred public questions about managers’ futures to the front office.

Other players spoke in Mattingly’s favor. Kyle Schwarber praised his steady approach following Rob Thomson’s dismissal, while J.T. Realmuto said, “We played well for him. He’s a great manager.”

A turnaround followed by an early exit

Mattingly inherited a 9-19 team when Thomson was fired April 28. The Phillies went 79-55 under him, finished 88-74 and made the postseason for the fifth consecutive year. Atlanta ended their season by winning the best-of-three Wild Card Series in three games.

The interim tag stayed on Mattingly’s title throughout the season. His son, Preston, is the Phillies’ general manager under president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

Philadelphia considered Alex Cora before turning to Mattingly. Zolecki reported that Dombrowski offered Cora the job before firing Thomson, but Cora declined. They won the 2018 World Series together in Boston. Nightengale’s report does not name an appointed successor.

Mattingly signed a two-year contract to be the Phillies’ bench coach before this season. After Thursday’s loss, he said in his postgame news conference that he had not discussed his future with Dombrowski and still wanted to work in baseball.

“I’m comfortable with whatever they want to do,” he said.