Alex Cora, former manager of the Boston Red Sox, has publicly addressed his decision to reject an offer from the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies recently fired manager Rob Thomson and appointed Don Mattingly as interim manager.
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BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 28: Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox addresses the media before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 28, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies made a big change in hopes of correcting their season as it heads off the rails, but it might not have been the change that the front office was hoping for.
After falling into last place in the National League, the Phillies announced that they had cut ties with manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday and that bench coach Don Mattingly would be appointed as the interim manager for the remainder of the season. Initially, that seemed to be a measured move to promote a new voice that would still offer some continuity for players.
But shortly after the teamâs announcement, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski revealed that he had tried to bring in Alex Cora instead of Mattingly, shortly after he was fired by the Boston Red Sox.
Alex Cora has not disclosed specific reasons for rejecting the Phillies' offer, but he has publicly addressed the situation.
Don Mattingly has been appointed as the interim manager for the Philadelphia Phillies following the dismissal of Rob Thomson.
Rob Thomson was fired after the Phillies fell to last place in the National League, prompting the front office to seek a change.
Don Mattingly's appointment as interim manager is intended to provide a new voice and some continuity for the players during the remainder of the season.
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âWe talked about potentially taking the job,â Dombrowski told reporters of a conversation he had with Cora on Sunday, per MLB.comâs Mark Feinsand. âI had told him I had really come to the conclusion at that point that if he took it, I was going to make a change. I thought that he might take it, but as time went on over the next day into Monday morning, it was apparent from his perspective that he wanted to take time with his family.â
Dombrowski hired Cora while he worked in the Red Sox front office and he led the team to a World Series championship in the next season. In breaking his own silence about rejecting the Philliesâ job offer, Cora confirmed the explanation that Dombrowski offered to reporters on Tuesday.
âI accepted to be a full-time dad,â Cora texted the New York Postâs Jon Heyman, regarding his decision not to become the Philliesâ new skipper this season.
However, Cora might be more open to taking a new full-time job before the start of next season. By waiting out the rest of this campaign, he can enjoy time with his family, reset after some tumultuous weeks in Boston and possibly assess some more available options.
It seems likely that the Phillies will still be interested in replacing Mattingly after this season and the chance to reunite with Dombrowski could entice Cora in a few months. But if the Phillies are unable to turn their season around, they might not look like a very appealing option.
âIf their stars begin performing closer to their career levels, not an unreasonable expectation, they might again factor into the playoff picture,â The Athleticâs Ken Rosenthal wrote of the Phillies. âIf not? Then this season could mark the beginning of the end of one of the great eras in franchise history. And Cora, when evaluating his options, might think twice about joining a team that isnât what it was, and might not reach that level again.â
This article was originally published on Forbes.com