Phillies Fire Manager Rob Thomson After Worst Start in Over Two Decades

The Philadelphia Phillies, off to their worst start to a season in over two decades, fired manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday. Thomson, who managed the Phillies to four straight playoff appearances -- including the 2022 World Series, will be replaced by Don Mattingly, who will serve as Philadelphia's interim manager through the remainder of the season. Mattingly will now officially work for one of his sons -- Preston Mattingly is the Phillies' general manager -- in what is believed to be the first father-son manager-GM combination in baseball history. The Phillies (9-19), the preseason favorite in the NL East, have lost 11 of their past 12 games and entered Tuesday tied with the New York Mets for the worst record in Major League Baseball. Despite a projected payroll of just over $315 million for 2026, the Phillies are off to their worst 28-game start since 2002, when they also started 9-19. Before deciding on Mattingly as Thomson's interim replacement, the Phillies did background work on the availability of Alex Cora, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney. But sources told Olney that the timing was not right for Cora, who was fired as Red Sox manager in stunning fashion Saturday after seven-plus seasons in Boston. Cora worked under Phillies top executive Dave Dombrowski when the latter served as Boston's president of baseball operations 2015-19. Thomson went 355-270 and had led a Phillies team loaded with high-priced talent that included Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner to consecutive NL East titles. Thomson, a 62-year-old baseball lifer finally promoted to his first managerial stint in 2022, signed a contract extension in the offseason through the 2027 season and was again expected to lead the Phillies into World Series contention. But Philadelphia instead has been one of the biggest flops in MLB, losing 10 straight games before ace Zack Wheeler led them to a win Saturday against the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies also announced Tuesday that third-base coach Dusty Wathan was promoted to bench coach. Thomson is the second manager fired in baseball this season after the Red Sox fired Cora and five coaches Saturday. Dombrowski, the Phillies' president of baseball operations, gave Thomson a vote of confidence last week while the team was in the midst of its losing streak. Dombrowski stood behind Thomson's work and said he has been a good manager since replacing Joe Girardi in 2022. Thomson led Philadelphia to the 2022 World Series after taking over for Girardi, losing to the Houston Astros in six games. Since then, the club has regressed in the postseason. Philadelphia lost in the NL Championship Series in 2023 in seven games and in the NL Division Series in 2024 and 2025 in four games. Nicknamed "Topper," Thomson has been with the club since the 2018 season, when he was hired as bench coach under former manager Gabe Kapler. Thomson was with the New York Yankees from 1990 to 2017, including 10 seasons on the major league coaching staff as bench coach (2008, 2015-17) and third-base coach (2009-14). He earned his nickname in the Yankees organization for always being on top of details. Thomson became only the fourth manager in big league history to reach the postseason in each of the first four full seasons to begin a managing career, joining Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone and Mike Matheny. Thomson became only the third manager in Phillies history to win consecutive division titles, joining Charlie Manuel and Danny Ozark. The Phillies have been awful in what was supposed to be a celebratory season with the franchise set to host the All-Star Game and its surrounding festivities. They've collapsed in every aspect of the game instead, with regulars Alec Bohm and Schwarber both hitting under .200, while starters Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter are all posting 5.00-plus ERAs. The Phillies just released high-priced bust Taijuan Walker in the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract, letting him go after releasing outfielder Nick Castellanos in February as he entered the final year of a five-year, $100 million deal. The Phillies haven't won the World Series since 2008 and were mired in a 10-year postseason drought before Thomson led them on a surprise run to the World Series in 2022 dubbed "Red October" that rejuvenated the fan base and made 90-plus-win seasons the norm.