Phillies spoke to surprise replacement candidate before firing manager Rob Thomson

Before Don Mattingly was announced as the Phillies’ interim manager on April 28, another man was considered as Rob Thomson’s immediate replacement: Alex Cora.

Shortly after the Phillies fired Thomson, multiple reports suggested Cora could have had the job if he wanted it.

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Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Cora received a formal offer.

Buster Olney of ESPN reported that the Phillies did “background work” on Cora and his availability.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com suggested it wouldn’t matter if another MLB manager job comes open; Cora is focused on “being a full-time dad” to his twin sons, who turn nine in July, and his daughter, Camila, who is in graduate school.

In addition to Cora, the Red Sox parted ways with hitting coach Peter Fatse, bench coach Rámon Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, third base coach Kyle Hudson. Boston also fired Major League Hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin in the early-season purge.

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The Phillies (9-19), like the Red Sox, are off to a slow start. Boston had just beaten Baltimore 17-1 when general manager Craig Breslow pulled the trigger, replacing Cora with interim Chad Tracy.