Phillies staff changes follow Mattingly’s return as manager
The Phillies’ coaching staff is already shifting after Don Mattingly’s new two-year deal became official Wednesday. Per MLB.com, hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson will not return for 2027, leaving the club with key staff openings for next season.
Coaching shakeup begins
MLB.com reported late Wednesday that Long and Dickerson will not be back on the Phillies staff in 2027. That follows the team’s earlier announcement that Mattingly is back on a two-year contract through 2028.
The timing matters because these are not cosmetic changes. Long was the hitting coach and Dickerson handled the infield, so the Phillies are losing two coaches with important day-to-day roles just after securing their manager.
Sources: MLB.com
Mattingly’s return sets the tone
Mattingly’s deal is the biggest organizational move of the week. Earlier Wednesday, the Phillies made him the full-time manager after he had been serving on an interim basis since April 28, according to MLB.com and AP coverage.
The club is choosing continuity at the top after a season that ended with a 79-55 mark under Mattingly and a postseason berth. For fans, that means the front office is betting on a familiar voice, while the staff changes show it is not simply running it back unchanged.
Sources: Greenwichtime, MLB.com, FOX Sports
Miller is healthy, and the infield picture is still open
Earlier this week, MLB.com wrote that Aidan Miller is healthy again and back in the Fall League, with his infield home still being sorted out.
With Bobby Dickerson out and Miller working his way back into view, the Phillies have changes around the infield on both the coaching and player-development sides.
Sources: MLB.com
Further reading
- Long, Dickerson will not return to Phillies staff in '27 (sources) (MLB.com)
- Phillies bring back Mattingly as manager on 2-year deal (MLB.com)
- The Phillies are keeping Don Mattingly as manager on a 2-year deal - Greenwich Time (Greenwichtime)
- The Phillies are keeping Don Mattingly as manager on a 2-year deal - FOX Sports (FOX Sports)
- Phillies set to bring back Mattingly as manager (sources) - MLB.com (MLB.com)
- 'I feel great now': Healthy Miller headlines Phillies contingent in Fall League (MLB.com)
- These three high-upside Phillies prospects could be big leaguers soon (MLB.com)
Philly Sport Daily writes this brief each morning with the help of AI, working only from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Let us know @sport_philly.