Phillies Fire Rob Thomson: 5 Replacements if Don Mattingly Can’t Save Season, Including Albert Pujols

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St. Louis Cardinals icon Albert Pujols has quietly emerged as an intriguing manager candidate in baseball circles. Since retiring four years ago, he has served as a special assistant for the Los Angeles Angels and was a candidate for their manager job in the fall.

In March, he offered a proof-of-concept for his skipper skills when he guided a star-studded Dominican Republic squad to the World Baseball Classic semifinals. Showing he can deal with a room full of big personalities and egos. That, along with his impressive resume as a player, would make him an intriguing option for the Phillies’ job.

David Ross, Former Cubs manager

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Another intriguing veteran skipper that could be in play if the Phillies are looking for a manager again this fall is former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross. While he wasn’t amazing in Chi-Town, he was still rock solid, and the team posted an 83-79 record before he was replaced by Craig Counsell.

Ross deserves another shot as a manager and is well-prepared for the pressures of this market after years as a player and manager in Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago.

Alex Cora, Former Red Sox Manager

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Late last week, the Boston Red Sox surprised many when they fired manager Alex Cora after eight seasons. While the team had a few losing seasons under his watch (including an 11-17 start this year), the 50-year-old had some very good years in Beantown, including a World Series win in 2018.

Furthermore, he remains one of the most respected managers in the game because he did the best he could with the talent he had. He was not the one who either traded or let stars like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and Alex Bregman walk. Or passed on spending big to improve the roster despite being in a major market.

A new report claims the Phillies actually offered him the job after deciding to move on from Thomson. However, he chose to pass on the opportunity and spend time with his family. He could have a different preference in November.

Rodney Linares, Rays bench coach

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Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Rodney Linares has emerged as a top manager candidate in baseball circles. He has been in baseball for over two decades and has earned a reputation for being strong in the field of player development. Playing a key role in turning several prospects into stars, including Jose Altuve.

However, he’s become a favorite of players for his style of coaching. The 48-year-old would bring a fresh approach to the Phillies clubhouse.

James Rowson, Yankees hitting coach

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Another emerging coach is New York Yankees hitting coach, James Rowson. He has gained a lot of praise for his ability to connect with players and blend analytics with baseball psychology. He has had success in multiple stops and was in the running for the Minnesota Twins job late last year before choosing to stick with the Yanks. Rowson will likely be on the Phillies radar if they don’t retain Mattingly in 2027.