The Philadelphia Phillies are fresh off a National League East division crown in 2025. The Phillies lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS in four games.

The year before, the Phillies made the NLDS before losing to the New York Mets in four games, and they lost in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS the year before that.

Advertisement

Going into the 2026 MLB season, the Phillies might see slugger Kyle Schwarber sign elsewhere in free agency, but there is still a lot of talent returning to the team.

With the MLB Winter Meetings beginning on Monday in Orlando, Florida, General Manager Dave Dombrowski spoke to reporters.

While doing so, Dombrowski also added that they are trying to finalize details to bring in Don Mattingly as a bench coach, via Todd Zelicki of MLB.com.

“Dave Dombrowski said Phillies and Don Mattingly have mutual interest in vacant bench coach job. Sounds like a matter of when, not if.”

Advertisement

Mattingly was the Los Angeles Dodgers manager from 2011 until 2015, compiling five winning seasons with three first-place finishes.

After the 2015 season, Mattingly left LA in what was described as a “mutual” agreement, and he quickly became the manager of the Miami Marlins.

Mattingly spent seven seasons in Miami, going 443-587, but he won National League Manager of the Year while leading the Marlins to a 31-29 record and a postseason trip in the COVID season.

Advertisement

After the 2022 season, Mattingly became the Blue Jays’ bench coach. After the World Series loss this year, it was reported that Mattingly was leaving Toronto, but he did not want to retire, and now all signs point to him returning to the NL East.

Related: Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Shares Off-Field Update After World Series Win

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.