The Philadelphia Phillies fired Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start to the season, allowing Don Mattingly to step in as the interim manager.
Under Mattingly, the Phillies went 79-55, reaching the postseason and finishing second in the National League East. Perhaps if Mattingly was the manager from the start, they could have won the division. Now, the Phillies go into the offseason with questions about the future manager. Will it be Mattingly or someone new?
Well, it seems like they have already decided that Mattingly won't be managing the team next year.
"Mattingly, who managed the Phillies for five months, will be gracefully dismissed, likely in the coming week," reported MLB insider Bob Nightengale on Friday. "The Phillies will announce the decision as a mutual parting, and will offer Mattingly the chance to stay in the organization, perhaps as an advisor, where his son, Preston, is the GM under Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations."
Mattingly refused to talk about his future in his postgame comments, noting that his focus was on his team. He noted that he wants the Phillies to do whatever they need to set themselves up for success as an organization.
Mattingly did say he loved being with the Phillies this year. If he is not back as the manager, it seems likely that he would return in some kind of role. Mattingly did not say whether he wants to manage or not moving forward, but he proved he can still succeed as a manager. He could be an option for other teams in need of a manager.