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The Philadelphia Phillies' pursuit of Alex Cora as their next manager has come up short. According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, Cora has rejected the Phillies for a second time after discussions with Dave Dombrowski, the team's president of baseball operations.
Philadelphia had made Cora their top choice following the dismissal of Rob Thomson, who was let go after a 9-19 start to the 2026 season. The connection between Dombrowski and Cora, forged during their time together with the Boston Red Sox, made Cora an obvious target. However, Cora informed Dombrowski that he will take the 2027 season off, a high-ranking Phillies executive with direct knowledge of the talks told USA TODAY Sports.
This marks the second time Cora has spurned Philadelphia. When initially offered the job in April, he cited a desire to spend more time with his family over the summer. No reason has been given for his latest decision, and Cora did not respond to a text message from USA TODAY Sports.
Money is not a factor for Cora, who is owed $7.25 million by the Red Sox in 2027, the final year of a three-year, $21.75 million contract. He will be paid handsomely without managing.
With Cora out of the picture, the Phillies must turn their attention to other candidates. Don Mattingly, who served as interim manager after Thomson's firing, is a logical option. Mattingly led the Phillies to a 79-55 record after taking over, and there is support within the organization for him to return. However, Mattingly was not ready to discuss his future after the team was eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card Round.
The next manager will face a uniquely awkward situation, as Cora could be a candidate again in 2028. That looming possibility adds pressure to whoever takes the job.
Originally reported by headtopics.