Phillies expected to make Alex Cora decision after 2026 season

Mar 14, 2019; Lakeland, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (right) and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski (left) look on during batting practice prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Phillies fired Rob Thomson early in the 2026 season, after the team went 9-19, and a change needed to be made.

Don Mattingly was named the interim manager, and since then, things have gone a lot better. But, looking beyond 2026, Mattingly might not stay as the manager.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Phillies are expected to make a big decision on Alex Cora, with the former Boston Red Sox manager looking likely to reunite with Dave Dombrowski for the 2027 season.

Phillies expected to make Alex Cora decision after 2026

"While the New York Mets would love to hire Alex Cora as their next manager, Cora is still expected to join the Phillies after rejecting their offer to replace Rob Thomson, who the club fired on April 28," Nightengale writes.

Philadelphia is expected to bring in Cora next year, likely as the manager full-time, with Mattingly not likely to keep his manager role as of now.

There's been significant buzz about Cora and Philadelphia, especially after both he and Thomson were fired early in the regular season.

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While Cora stepped away from baseball for the moment, it's looking likely that Cora will join the Phillies after the 2026 season as their new manager.

Cora has been a good manager in his career and would be a solid full-time hire for the Phillies. Of course, it's hard not to feel like Mattingly should stick around, considering the amount of success he's had this year.

But this report from Nightengale makes it clear the Phillies are still the favorites to hire Cora as their new manager next offseason.

Despite interest from the Mets and likely many other clubs looking for a new manager, Cora to Philadelphia looks to be the most likely outcome after the 2026 season.

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