Overview
- The Phillies removed Don Mattingly’s interim title and signed him to a two-year contract, a decision announced Thursday that gives the team managerial stability after a late-season comeback and early playoff exit.
- Philadelphia fired hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson and hired former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza as infield and third-base coach to address a major defensive slide.
- The club formally requested permission to contact franchise alumni Chase Utley and Raúl Ibañez about the job, but both politely declined to pursue the position with the Phillies.
- The team agreed to terms with left-handed reliever Tim Mayza for 2027, left the hitting coach position open, and set clear defensive expectations for shortstop Trea Turner to prove he can remain at the position in spring training.
- Front-office president Dave Dombrowski framed the moves as prioritizing continuity in the dugout and defensive improvement, while leaving key coaching hires and broader roster decisions to be settled in the coming offseason under time pressure from a compressed schedule and potential labor disruption.