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Before Dave Roberts came to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and managed them to five World Series appearances and three rings, the Dodgers were led by a different guy.

In his five season (2011-2015) tenure with the Dodgers, Don Mattingly compiled a 446-363 regular-season record and back-to-back-to-back National League West titles. Although having an 81.3% winning record with the Dodgers, the organization mutually parted ways with Mattingly after failure to reach the World Series during the postseason.

Mattingly was then hired by the Miami Marlins where he served as manager for six seasons. Then he joined the Toronto Blue Jays organization as bench coach in 2023, and now is with the Philadelphia Phillies. Although over a decade has passed since Mattingly found himself as a manager of the Dodgers, he has become a top candidate for a struggling Phillies team.

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Don Mattingly Named Top Candidate For Phillies Manager If Rob Thomson Is Fired

The Los Angeles Dodgers soundly defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1, in the NL Wild Card round in 2025. Since then, the Phillies have found themselves tied for last in the NL East, as well as tied for the worst record in the MLB.

They have lost 15 of their last 18 games, and even accumulated a 10-game losing streak. The Phillies have the worst run differential (-54), have the second-worst team batting average (.219), and third-worst team ERA (5.15).

Many Philadelphia fans are calling for a personnel change, starting with firing manager Rob Thomson. Although Thomson turned around a 22-29 Phillies team in 2022, it looks like his time might be up.

With the possibility of Thomson getting fired, it leaves a lingering question of who will take his place?

Some people believe that former Dodger manager Don Mattingly is a top candidate as interim manager.

However, Phillies beat writer Cory Nidoh, contradicts this idea through a post on X that explains Mattingly’s stance on managing.

“For those calling for Rob Thomson to be fired, Don Mattingly said in his introductory presser he doesn’t have aspirations to manage again,” Nidoh wrote. “Citing the amount of energy and toll it takes on the person in that role. Minds can change, of course, but he didn’t seem to be very much interested when he was hired.”

Although it’s easy to write out Mattingly as a definitive no for manager, they could move him to hitting coach if Kevin Long is fired or given the role as interim manager.

More MLB on Heavy: Phillies’ Manager Rob Thomson Makes Honest Claim About Talks Of Firing

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Mattingly Reveals Reason Why Dodgers Managerial Career Ended

Looking back, not a lot of people would swap Dave Roberts for Don Mattingly. Roberts has brought the city of Los Angeles three world series rings in 10 years as manager.

However, a lot of people can confidently say that they were sad to see the Dodgers part ways with Mattingly.

In 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, where Mattingly served as the bench coach. This was Mattingly’s first World Series appearance as either a player or a coach.

But one can only wonder if Mattingly stayed with the Dodgers, would he have made the World Series earlier in his coaching career?

For years, it was not explicitly stated why the Dodgers and Mattingly parted ways in 2015, but ahead of Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, Mattingly finally explains their decision.

“It really was a family decision,” Mattingly said. “I never looked back on those decisions.”

He wished the Dodgers organization well during their World Series matchup, and has great ties with the organization. It seems like Mattingly is done with the managerial aspect of baseball, and wants to remain as either a bench or hitting coach.