Phillies, Rob Thomson Reach Contract Extension Amid Kyle Schwarber Free-Agent Rumors

The Philadelphia Phillies extended the contract of manager Rob Thomson shortly after reportedly re-signing star free agent Kyle Schwarber.

Thomson's new contract runs through the 2027 season, the Phillies announced Tuesday.

Thomson has led the Phillies to four straight postseason appearances since taking over as manager in 2022.

His extension was announced shortly after ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Schwarber had signed a five-year, $150 million deal to stay in Philadelphia.

Thomson is a former catcher who worked for the New York Yankees from 1990 to 2017 before joining the Phillies as a bench coach. He was previously signed as manager through the 2026 season.

He led the Phillies to an NL pennant in his first season with the club before losing 4-2 in the World Series to the Houston Astros.

Thomson's team came within one game of returning to the World Series in 2023 with a seven-game NLCS loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Phillies have since suffered back-to-back NLDS eliminations, most recently bowing out in four games to the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers this fall.

Thomson came under fire for his decision-making in a season-ending Game 5. After the Phillies got within one run of tying the game in the ninth inning with no outs and Nick Castellanos in scoring position, Thomson sent out Bryson Stott to attempt a bunt.

The Dodgers threw out Castellanos on the play, then got the final two outs to win the game.

That loss dropped the Phillies to 1-5 in their last five postseason games at Citizens Bank Park, dating back to the 2023 NLCS.

But Thomson has also led the Phillies to back-to-back NL East titles, and this winter he joined Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone and Mike Matheny as the fourth manager in MLB history to start out his managerial career with four straight postseason appearances.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski confirmed after the Phillies' elimination not only that Thomson would be coming back for 2026 but that the club would look at adding another year to his contract this winter.

Thomson's extension comes the day after Dombrowski told reporters the Phillies were working on bringing in Don Mattingly, father of general manager Preston Mattingly, as bench coach.

Mattingly will be set to replace Mike Calitri, who is transitioning to a role as major league field coordinator.

The Phillies' announcement Tuesday seemingly indicates Mattingly, a former manager of the Dodgers and Miami Marlins, isn't a threat to take Thomson's job.

It also comes as a signal that Phillies believe managerial decisions aren't what's been keeping the club from winning its first World Series title since 2008.

With Thomson locked in and Schwarber back in the lineup, the Phillies will turn their focus to other changes that could get the club closer to championship competition, including re-signing J.T. Realmuto and bringing in an outfielder ahead of what looks like a pending split with Castellanos.