Don Mattingly Discusses Future as Phillies Manager After Alex Cora Buzz

Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly expressed interest in leading the team beyond the 2026 season on Wednesday.

"Oh, I would do it," he told ESPN's Buster Olney when asked if he would consider extending his time managing the team. "I kind of committed myself to two years with the Phillies when I came over. So, whatever [president of baseball operations] Dave [Dombrowski] wants to do in that regard. But yeah, I think I would like to do it."

The Phillies got off to a rocky start this season, going 9-19. That prompted the firing of former manager Rob Thomson, who was replaced by Mattingly.

Since that change the Phillies have been red hot and one of the best teams in the sport, going 42-22 coming into Wednesday's matchup with the Cincinnati Reds.

Mattingly, 65, wasn't the first choice of Dombrowski, however. Instead, the president of baseball operations had discussed the gig with Alex Cora—who had just been fired by the Boston Red Sox—even before Thomson was fired.

"We talked about potentially taking the job," Dombrowski told reporters in April. "I had told him I had really come to the conclusion at that point that if he took it, I was going to make a change. I thought that he might take it, but as time went on over the next day into Monday morning, it was apparent from his perspective that he wanted to take time with his family. ... I think Alex Cora is one of the finest managers in the game of baseball. I've been fortunate enough to work with Hall of Fame managers like Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland; I've been very fortunate in my career. I think if Alex Cora decides to keep managing, he has a chance to be in that same category. That's how good he is."

Those comments have made Cora the frontrunner to take over the position next season—whenever next season actually occurs amidst the looming labor showdown—though Mattingly has certainly entered his name into the ring in a serious way. If the Phillies keep cruising under his watch, or finally win a title in the Bryce Harper era, it's hard to imagine he wouldn't get the job.