The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to make some big changes and moves this winter. Whether it's re-signing Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto, or the trade rumors floating around about Ketel Marte or Byron Buxton, it's bound to be a busy offseason.
But, on the first day of the MLB Winter Meetings, the Phillies haven't made any roster moves or been rumored to be close to any such deals so far.
That is, when it comes to the roster. According to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies and a former coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers have mutual interest.
Phillies have mutual interest with former Blue Jays, Dodgers, Yankees coach
The coach the Phillies are interested in is Don Mattingly. After coming one game within a World Series title with the Blue Jays in 2025, Mattingly has a chance to join the Phillies coaching staff for the bench coaching job.
"Dave Dombrowski said the Phillies have 'mutual interest' with Don Mattingly for the bench coach job," March reported.
What makes this potential hiring so interesting, beyond Mattignly's long MLB experience as a player, coach, and manager, is that his son, Preston Mattingly, is the Phillies' general manager.
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The Phillies have a chance to reunite father and son in Philadelphia, and with a coaching job open, the odds of a deal being struck look good.
"It's not official, but we have really focused on speaking with Don and trying to make that happen, and we're hopeful that it will," Dombrowski said of Mattingly.
After back-to-back disappointing finishes to the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the Phillies need to make some changes this winter.
While roster moves are a good way to spark some change, so too is adjusting the coaching staff. Rob Thomson hasn't made many moves with his staff, but adding Mattingly would be a strong veteran presence to add to the coaching staff, who has experience with successful teams in his long MLB career.
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