Phillies predicted to replace Rob Thomson with 2-time World Series champion, NL Manager of the Year originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Just last week, the Philadelphia Phillies were in the midst of one of their worst slides in a long time. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made it clear that manager Rob Thomson was not on the hot seat.
“Dave Dombrowski is concerned about what is going on with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he said manager Rob Thomson is not on the hot seat despite the team's seven-game losing streak. Dombrowski, the Phillies' president of baseball operations, instead is focused on the team's overall play during an 8-15 start this season,” ESPN wrote.
Less than a week after those comments, Dombrowski made the decision to move on from Thomson. With Thomson now out, bench coach Don Mattingly has been named interim manager.
“There’s a major shakeup in Philadelphia. The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday morning. Don Mattingly is the interim skipper, with the team’s press release saying he’ll hold that position for the remainder of the 2026 season,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco wrote.
The Phillies will now have a major decision to make at the end of the season regarding their next manager. One possible name to watch is former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross.
“Ross' overall record in four years with the Cubs doesn't look like much, but it's also worth remembering that he didn't have nearly as much talent to work with as Craig Counsell does currently. He tends to be a bit more old-school — sort of like Thomson, really — and the in-game decision-making could sometimes leave you scratching your head, but he's got a wealth of experience as both a player and a coach and he's generally beloved by clubhouses wherever he goes. He'll get a second chance somewhere; don't count him out,” FanSided’s Chris Landers wrote.
Ross was well-liked during his time in Chicago, and it came as a surprise when the organization hired Craig Counsell over him. As a former player, Ross also brings World Series experience to any team he joins.
Ross has an old-school approach, which could provide the edge the Phillies are looking for in their next manager. He has had success in the role, and he could be a strong candidate for Philadelphia moving forward.