PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies named former New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza as their new infield and third-base coach on Thursday, part of an offseason overhaul of the club’s coaching staff.
Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies president of baseball operations, announced the hire one day after officially securing Don Mattingly as the team’s full-time manager on a two-year deal. Mendoza replaces infield coach Bobby Dickerson, whom the club dismissed alongside longtime hitting coach Kevin Long following a season-ending exit in the National League wild-card round.
Reshaping the Staff in Philadelphia
Mendoza, 46, was fired by the Mets in June after a 34-47 start to the 2026 campaign that included a 12-game losing skid, The Big Lead and The Sporting News reported. In two-and-a-half seasons in Queens, he compiled a 206-199 regular-season record and guided New York to the National League Championship Series in 2024, where the club fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. Before taking over the Mets, Mendoza spent six seasons as the bench coach for the New York Yankees from 2018 through 2023.
Anthony Contreras, who stepped into the third-base coaching role during the 2026 season after Dusty Wathan was elevated to bench coach, is expected to transition into a different position inside the organization, according to The Athletic.
Mattingly took over Philadelphia on an interim basis on April 28 after Rob Thomson was fired during a 9-19 start. Under Mattingly, the Phillies rebounded with a 79-55 stretch to reach the postseason before falling to the Atlanta Braves. His new managerial contract extends through the 2028 season, Sports Illustrated reported.
Addressing Defensive Struggles
Mendoza’s arrival puts him in charge of fixing an infield defense that cratered during the 2026 season. Shortstop Trea Turner in particular endured a steep decline in the field, finishing tied for 16th out of 19 qualified shortstops with minus-eight outs above average, Bleacher Report noted.
During his press conference on Thursday, Dombrowski addressed Turner’s position directly. Dombrowski said the team plans to start Turner at shortstop to open the 2027 season, but added that the veteran must show throughout the year that he can stick at the position. Turner also endured the most difficult offensive campaign of his career, batting .242 with a .297 on-base percentage across 157 games, while remaining under contract for $27.3 million annually through 2033.
The Phillies must still hire a new hitting coach to succeed Long, whose offense fell to a 92 wRC+ in 2026 after four consecutive seasons of postseason appearances. Dombrowski and Mattingly face additional roster questions this winter as the organization evaluates an aging core and prepares for the 2027 campaign.
