Overview
- The Phillies removed Don Mattingly’s interim tag and signed him to a two-year contract, a decision announced Thursday that locks in managerial continuity after a midseason turnaround.
- President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski fired hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson and hired former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza as the team’s infield and third-base coach while the club continues its search for a new hitting coach.
- Dombrowski checked with former Phillies stars Chase Utley and Raúl Ibañez about the job but both declined to speak with the team, a sign the front office vetted outside options before confirming Mattingly.
- The Phillies agreed to a one-year major-league deal with lefty reliever Tim Mayza, a targeted short-term move that shows the club is focusing on small, near-term roster fixes rather than large free-agent splashes.
- Dombrowski told shortstop Trea Turner he must prove in spring training that he can play shortstop, and he warned that payroll commitments and a likely December work stoppage will limit Philadelphia’s ability to make big moves this winter.