Phillies expected to keep Rob Thomson as manager for the 2026 MLB season

Matt Sullivan

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Phillies expected to keep Rob Thomson as manager for the 2026 MLB season image

The Philadelphia Phillies lost the NLDS to the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games, as the offense struggled outside of a couple of innings following their Game 3 dominance of Clayton Kershaw.

With the last three seasons ending in brutal losses in the playoffs, all at least in the NLDS, the Phillies are expected to make a lot of changes in the offseason. There were questions about the outfield, infield, and pitching staff that could all be addressed this winter.

But, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Rob Thomson's job is safe this offseason. The Phillies are expected to keep Thomson around for the 0226 MLB season, as he's set to get another chance with this Phillies core.

Phillies expected to keep Rob Thomson as manager for the 2026 season

Heyman reports that Thomson's job is safe for the 2026 season. While he doesn't mention that beyond that is safe, for now, the Phillies are retaining Thomson as their team's manager.

The Phillies, since Thomson has taken over, have been one of the better teams in baseball. They've made every postseason since he took over as the manager partway through the 2022 MLB season.

Thomson has led the Phillies to a World Series, two NLCS appearances, and four NLDS appearances in the four years of his managerial career.

Philadelphia has been one of the better teams in baseball since he took over, with a winning percentage of .580 since he took over in 2022. He's won two NL East titles and has helped the Phillies regain postseason relevance after years of failure.

More: Phillies manager Rob Thomson delivers clear message to Orion Kerkering after unforgettable collapse

However, his job was in question following their loss in the NLDS to the Dodgers. Between his decision to have Bryson Stott bunt late in the game and some questionable bullpen moves, there were some calls for Thomson to be fired.

But, not long after the Phillies were eliminated, it's being reported by Heyman that the Phillies won't be moving on from Thomson this offseason. While he's guaranteed to stick around for another year, if 2026 fails, Thomson could be on his way out.

Thomson is coming back for the 2026 MLB season, which is the most important year for both him and the Phillies. With this core only getting older and more expensive, 2026 might be the Phillies' last chance to win the World Series with this group of players.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.