Following an early playoff exit, the Philadelphia Phillies signed manager Don Mattingly to a two-year contract for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski subsequently announced a coaching staff overhaul, parting ways with hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson.
The Philadelphia Phillies concluded their season with a National League Wild Card Series defeat against the Atlanta Braves. With the offseason arriving earlier than anticipated, leadership moved swiftly to secure the coaching hierarchy and address defensive and offensive regressions.
Don Mattingly Secures a Two-Year Managerial Contract
The organization removed the interim tag from Don Mattingly, signing him to a two-year deal covering the 2027 and 2028 Major League Baseball seasons. Mattingly had stepped in as interim manager on April 28 following the dismissal of Rob Thomson during a 9-19 start. Under Mattingly, the club posted a 79-55 record.
Kevin Long and Bobby Dickerson Dismissed After Offense and Defense Slide
Despite retaining the manager, the front office parted ways with hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson, as first reported by Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Long had joined the staff in October 2021 and received a contract extension after the 2025 season that ran through 2028. However, Philadelphia’s team offense dropped from a .258 batting average and .759 OPS in 2025—ranking second and fourth in the majors—to a .240 average and .707 OPS this season, placing 21st and 22nd respectively.
Phillies sign manager Don Mattingly to two-year deal through 2028. pic.twitter.com/A5SUVNVpgy
Long brought extensive major-league experience to the dugout, having previously served as hitting coach for the New York Yankees from 2007 through 2014, the New York Mets from 2015 to 2017, and the Washington Nationals from 2018 until joining the Phillies in 2022. He won World Series titles with the Yankees in 2009 and the Nationals in 2019. Known for his impact on hitters, Long was credited with unlocking Daniel Murphy’s power surge in the postseason and rebuilding Kyle Schwarber’s swing in Washington after the Chicago Cubs non-tendered him following a 2020 campaign in which he batted .188. Schwarber later pushed for the Phillies to sign him, leading to contracts totaling $229 million, and advocated for Long to be retained prior to signing a deal last winter.
Dickerson’s departure coincides with a steep decline in infield defense. The unit plummeted from a plus-20 Outs Above Average rating in 2025 to minus-11 in 2026, a 31-out swing according to Statcast data. Dickerson, who played seven seasons of minor-league baseball in the 1980s and 1990s, originally joined the Phillies as infield coach in 2019 before spending 2020 and 2021 as the San Diego Padres’ bench coach and returning to Philadelphia for the 2022 season. During his tenure, he helped turn Alec Bohm into a serviceable major-league third baseman, worked with Bryce Harper on his transition from career outfielder to first baseman during his 2023 recovery from elbow surgery, and guided Trea Turner through a defensive improvement that saw Turner reach 17 Outs Above Average in 2025. However, Turner struggled through a year at shortstop this season with minus-11 OAA. Beyond the major-league staff, the Phillies also let go of Minor League infielder coordinator Adam Everett, who served for five seasons, and Minor League outfield coordinator Andy Abad, a 15-year organizational employee.
Carlos Mendoza Joins Coaching Staff and Tim Mayza Returns
To fill the vacancies on the field staff, Dombrowski announced the hiring of former New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza as the new third base and infield coach. Mendoza managed the Mets from 2024 through June 2026, compiling a 206-199 overall record before being relieved of his duties following a 34-47 start. Before his stint managing the Mets, Mendoza spent from 2009 to 2023 in various coaching positions within the New York Yankees organization, topping out as Aaron Boone’s bench coach from 2020 to 2023.
Alongside the coaching changes, the Phillies re-signed left-handed relief pitcher Tim Mayza to a one-year deal. Mayza debuted with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017, pitched regularly in their bullpen until his release in July 2024, and spent brief stints with the Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates before landing with Philadelphia off waivers in August 2025. After making seven appearances with Philadelphia, he agreed to a minor-league contract for the offseason, earned an Opening Day roster spot, and turned in one of the most productive seasons of his career. He threw a career-high 67.1 innings, producing a 3.48 ERA with 64 strikeouts and a 1.5 bWAR.