Sports · Baseball · 7 hrs ago
Phillies Make Don Mattingly Full-Time Manager After Other Candidates Decline
The Phillies promoted Don Mattingly to full-time manager after he led the team as interim manager.
The club had also sought permission to speak with former Phillies Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez, who both declined to take the job.
Utley said the commitment was not realistic for him at the moment given his family situation.
Ibanez considered the offer for a few days before deciding to stay with the Dodgers, where he works in baseball development.
Mattingly led Philadelphia to an 88-74 record and a fifth straight playoff berth, but the team lost to Atlanta in a three-game Wild Card series.
With Utley and Ibanez staying in Los Angeles and Alex Cora planning a year off, Mattingly will remain in charge.
The Phillies contacted former players Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez about their managerial vacancy, according to a report cited by MLB Trade Rumors.
Both declined, and the Phillies promoted interim manager Don Mattingly to the full-time job.
Utley said a managerial commitment was not realistic for him given his current family situation.
Ibanez considered the opportunity for a couple of days before telling Dave Dombrowski he would stay with the Dodgers.
- Who
- The Phillies contacted former players Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez.
- What
- They were asked about the manager job and declined. The Phillies promoted Don Mattingly instead.
- When
- During the Phillies’ managerial search; the contact date is not stated.
- Where
- Philadelphia’s manager search; Utley and Ibanez were working for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Utley played for the Phillies.
Mattingly took over as interim manager after Rob Thomson was fired.
Ibanez took a couple of days to consider the job before telling Dombrowski he would stay with the Dodgers.
The Phillies promoted Mattingly to the full-time manager role.
- Candidates contacted
- Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez
- New manager
- Don Mattingly
- Utley’s Phillies tenure
- 2003–15
- Ibanez’s Dodgers role
- Vice president of baseball development and special projects since 2024
- Mattingly’s interim record
- 79-55
4 sources
Phillies reportedly checked with Chase Utley, Raúl Ibañez about manager position before signing Don Mattingly
Phillies reportedly wanted to hire Dodgers executive to replace Don Mattingly as manager
Phillies Reached Out To Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez In Managerial Search
What people are saying
Regardless if that (Phillies report) is true or not … considering where I’m currently at with my family, that commitment (to a job like managing) is not really realistic at the moment.