Philadelphia Phillies Fire Rob Thomson, Appoint Don Mattingly as Interim Manager The Philadelphia Phillies, struggling with their worst start to a season in over two decades, announced the firing of manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday. Thomson, who led the team to four consecutive playoff appearances—including the 2022 World Series—will be replaced by Don Mattingly, who will serve as the club’s interim manager for the remainder of the 2025 season. Mattingly’s appointment marks a historic father-son managerial-GM combination, as his son Preston Mattingly is the Phillies’ general manager. The Phillies, the preseason favorites in the NL East, entered Tuesday with a 9-19 record, tied with the New York Mets for the worst mark in Major League Baseball. Their 28-game start has been their worst since 2002, when they also began 9-19. Despite a projected 2026 payroll of just over $315 million, the team has failed to live up to expectations, losing 11 of their past 12 games. The collapse has been particularly stark for a franchise set to host the All-Star Game and its surrounding festivities, with regulars Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber both hitting under .200 and starters Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter posting 5.00-plus ERAs. Thomson, a 62-year-old baseball veteran, was promoted to his first managerial role in 2022 after a long career with the New York Yankees, where he served as a bench coach and third-base coach. He led the Phillies to consecutive NL East titles and the 2022 World Series, earning a contract extension through the 2027 season. However, the team has since regressed, failing to advance past the NL Division Series in 2024 and 2025 and losing in the NL Championship Series in 2023.#philadelphia_phillies #alex_cora #rob_thomson #dave_dombrowski #don_mattingly
‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Scott Boras on extending Bryce Harper’s ‘legacy’ in Philly The agent joined The Inquirer's baseball show to discuss a variety of topics, including Harper’s future, and the long-awaited smashing debut of rookie righty Andrew Painter. Published April 6, 2026, 2:59 p.m. ET A few weeks ago, the Phillies reworked ace lefty Cristopher Sánchez’s contract. In addition to picking up two club options, they tacked on two additional seasons, turning a four-year guarantee into an eight-year pact with deferred money. Could a similar arrangement be in the works for Bryce Harper? “In my discussions with [owner] John [Middleton] and [president of baseball operations] Dave [Dombrowski], they’re fully aware that Bryce has a legacy that he wants to fulfill in Philadelphia beyond the current contract,” agent Scott Boras said in this week’s episode of Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast. “And we’ve already had discussions about that as we go forward.” Harper, 33, has repeatedly expressed a desire to play into his 40s. He’s eight seasons into a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies that runs through his age-38 season. Boras has previously conveyed Harper’s interest in revising the contract. But the deal doesn’t include an opt-out provision that would give Harper leverage to renegotiate. In a wide-ranging conversation, Boras discussed Harper’s future, the long-awaited smashing debut of rookie righty Andrew Painter, the looming labor fight between baseball’s players and owners, and more.#scott_boras #john_middleton #dave_dombrowski #bryce_harper #andrew_painter
