Phillies hire Don Mattingly to 2-year deal as manager - ESPN

Don Mattingly, who guided the Philadelphia Phillies to the postseason after taking over as interim manager just 28 games into the season, will return as the team's full-time manager after reaching a two-year deal, it was announced Wednesday.

Hired last season as a bench coach, Mattingly, 65, took the reins after Rob Thomson was fired in April. The father of Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly, Don Mattingly helped turn around the team's fortunes immediately and, despite losing four games in a row during the final week of the regular season, clinched a National League wild-card berth with a victory in the final game.

The Phillies forced a decisive Game 3 in the NL Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves but bowed out with a 6-2 loss.

Mattingly went 79-55 this season, stating publicly that he had interest in returning as manager as the Phillies reached the postseason for a fifth consecutive season.

The Phillies boast a starting rotation that is led by Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo, but an aging lineup, anchored by slugger Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, is becoming a concern. Infielder Alec Bohm, trade deadline acquisition Luis Arraez and reliever Jose Alvarado are among those entering free agency.

Right field again will be a question mark entering 2027 with Harper likely returning to first base, and bullpen depth will also need to be addressed. Top infield prospect Aidan Miller, who missed almost all of last season because of a back injury, could be the answer at third base.

Following a 14-year playing career with the New York Yankees, Mattingly has served as a major league manager or coach for 23 consecutive seasons. Prior to joining the Phillies, Mattingly was bench coach of the Toronto