New MLB Rumors on Phillies' Talks With Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez Before Don Mattingly Decision

Don Mattingly, who was officially named manager of the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, might have been the fourth choice for the job.

Per The Athletic's Jayson Stark, the Phillies reached out to former players Chase Utley and Raul Ibañez to "gauge their interest" in the managerial job.

Stark noted both Utley and Ibañez "politely declined" the opportunity.

In addition to Utley and Ibañez, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski previously spoke with Alex Cora about the job. Cora declined because he intends to sit out the 2027 MLB season.

Utley played 13 of his 16 MLB seasons with the Phillies. He ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in games played, hits, total bases and home runs. He was also a key member of the 2008 team that won the World Series.

Ibañez spent three seasons with the Phillies from 2009 to '11. His lone All-Star appearance during his 19-year career came during his first year in Philadelphia when he hit a career-high 34 homers.

Both Utley and Ibañez currently work in the front office for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ibañez has been with the Dodgers since January 2024 when he was hired as vice president of baseball development and special projects. Utley works as a special assistant to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.

The Phillies previously expressed interest in hiring Utley in some capacity before he joined the Dodgers, but the six-time All-Star told Conor Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this year that being close to his home in Los Angeles was the main selling point.

"I finished my career in Los Angeles," Utley said. "I live in Los Angeles, and I wanted to still be around baseball, but still be around my family and not travel too much."

According to Stark, the Phillies' interest in Utley and Ibañez was "serious enough" that Dombrowski requested formal permission from the Dodgers to speak with both men.

Utley told Stark that managing an MLB club was "not realistic" for him at this point.

Mattingly was named interim manager by Philadelphia on April 28 after Rob Thomson was fired following a 9-19 start to the season.

The Phillies responded to the managerial change by going 79-55 under Mattingly. Only the Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers had better records during that period.

Philadelphia made the playoffs as a wild card, losing in the NL Wild Card series in three games to the Atlanta Braves. It marked the third straight season the Phillies have lost their first playoff series.

Mattingly, who signed a two-year deal with the Phillies, had not managed since the 2022 season with the Miami Marlins. He has a 968-1,005 career record in 13 seasons as a manager.