Alex Cora Sends 3-Word Phillies Message After Don Mattingly Replacement Update

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 25: Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout before his team plays against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 25, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

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The Philadelphia Phillies entered their offseason facing questions about their direction after another disappointing postseason ended earlier than hoped. Despite a roster built to contend for a World Series, the club fell short of its ultimate goal, leaving president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski with important decisions to make about the team’s future.

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Initially, one of the biggest questions for Dombrowski involved the dugout. After cutting ties with Rob Thomson during the season, Dombrowski had considered bringing in former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora before pivoting to bench coach Don Mattingly.

Then, after the season ended, Dombrowski again sought Cora for the Phillies dugout.

“The Philadelphia Phillies have been spurned again by Alex Cora,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported. “Dave Dombrowski, Phillies president of baseball operations, spoke with Cora about becoming their manager in 2027, but Cora informed Dombrowski he’s taking the season off.”

After that update from Cora, the Phillies signed Mattingly to a two-year contract. But now Cora has sent a brief message about his ongoing relationship with the team’s front office decision maker.

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Alex Cora Offers 3-Word Response On Philadelphia Phillies And Dave Dombrowski

On Monday, Cora’s first lengthy interview since he was fired by the Red Sox was published and he sent a simple message about the Phillies.

“We’re still talking,” Cora said of his ongoing dialogue with Dombrowski, following his decision to reject the chance to Don Mattingly at the helm, on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast.

Cora added that Dombrowski was one of the first people he reached out to when he learned that the Red Sox had decided to fire him. And he described the Phillies president as someone who gave him an opportunity and whom he has continued to consult over the years following their relationship in Boston, where they won a World Series championship together.

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Cora also left open the possibility that he could eventually return to managing, while making clear that his family remains central to the decision.

“If I decide I want to go through the process, and somebody gives us a chance to interview, it would be good for them to hear it,” Cora said. “You know, how I see it, my values as a manager, understanding everything that goes with it and go from there. And they make a decision. … I’m not 100% sure I want to do it.”

For the Phillies, the immediate question has been settled: Mattingly will manage the team, at least to open next season. And Cora’s latest comments do not indicate that he is reconsidering the 2027 opportunity, but they demonstrate that his connection with Dombrowski remains intact. And ultimately that could lead to Cora rejoining the executive with the Phillies at some point in the future.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

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