Breaking: Philadelphia Phillies Fire Rob Thomson, Name Surprising Replacement

The Boston Red Sox' firing of Alex Cora may have opened the floodgates. The Philadelphia Phillies, with an even worse start to the season than the BoSox, have followed suit and cut ties with manager Rob Thomson. And he's been replaced for the rest of the 2026 season with the GM's father, Don Mattingly.

Don Mattingly will step in as interim manager of the Phillies pic.twitter.com/pAeBugq15j
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 28, 2026

But it gets even more interesting than that, as Phillies president Dave Dombrowski first offered the job to his pal Cora, newly unemployed.

Alex Cora was offered the Philadelphia Phillies' managerial job before Don Mattingly, but declined.
He has decided to spend time with his family.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 28, 2026

Insider Bob Nightengale reports that Cora declined that offer in order to spend more time with his family. He is still getting paid handsomely by the Red Sox through 2027, with about $12 million still owed him.

What is Don Matthingly's managerial experience?

Mattingly spent three years as a bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, before being hired for the same post this season with the Phillies. The former NY Yankees great is now reporting to his son, Preston Mattingly, the Phillies' general manager.

Don Mattingly has plenty of big league managerial experience, previously holding that post for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2011-2015, and the Miami Marlins for the next seven years, through 2022. He has a career 889-950 record and is 10-14 in the postseason.

The Phils, considered a World Series contender before the season, got off to a 9-19 start, dead last in all of baseball (tied with the equally woeful NY Mets). The City of Brotherly Love now has a Father-Son duo running the show.