Phillies’ Baffling Hire Leaves Don Mattingly Facing an Impossible Position
A hiring choice with implications
Philadelphia’s reported decision to hire Peter Fatse as hitting coach comes after the club brought Don Mattingly back as manager on a two-year deal. Alex Cora had reportedly been the Phillies’ preferred choice, but declined the opportunity.
Fatse most recently worked as Cora’s hitting coach in Boston. The pairing has fueled speculation that the Phillies could again pursue Cora, leaving Mattingly in a potentially awkward position when next season begins.
Fatse’s Boston record
Fatse joined the Red Sox in 2020 and became hitting coach in the winter of 2021. Across four full seasons, Boston hit .255/.322/.419 as a team, with a 104 wRC+.
The article describes that production as neither poor nor outstanding. Boston finished among the top 10 teams in wRC+ only once during that span, in 2024, and ranked among the sport’s weakest lineups early in the 2026 season.
Why Cora remains central
Cora managed under Dave Dombrowski in Boston, and reports had identified him as Dombrowski’s preferred choice for Philadelphia’s managerial opening. The Phillies turned to Mattingly after Cora declined.
Dombrowski inherited Joe Girardi in Philadelphia and retained Rob Thomson after Thomson led the team to the World Series in 2022. The article suggests Dombrowski may have wanted a fresh managerial search after the 2026 season, but Cora’s decision changed that plan.
Key points
- The Phillies reportedly hired Peter Fatse to replace hitting coach Kevin Long.
- Fatse served as Alex Cora’s hitting coach in Boston.
- Don Mattingly received a two-year contract after Cora declined Philadelphia’s managerial job.
- Boston’s offense posted a 104 wRC+ across Fatse’s four full seasons as hitting coach.