The Braves didn’t get the postseason finish they wanted in 2026, but they did come away with one thing worth smiling about: the Phillies are keeping Don Mattingly.
That matters in Atlanta. The Braves finished their rebound season by getting knocked out of the NLDS by the Dodgers after their offense went quiet, but they also sent the Phillies home along the way.
That part was satisfying enough on its own. It got even better when the opponent on the other side was a Mattingly-led Philadelphia club.
For Atlanta, there’s plenty of history attached to Mattingly. That goes back to his time managing the Marlins, when his teams repeatedly threw at Ronald Acuña Jr. while Acuña was torching them on the field. So when the Phillies turned to Mattingly as interim manager after firing Rob Thomson, it was fair to assume his stay in Philadelphia might be temporary.
It isn’t.
On Wednesday, the Phillies made it official by signing Mattingly to a two-year contract.
The Phillies have signed manager Don Mattingly to a two-year contract.
- Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) October 14, 2026
For the Braves, that’s the kind of news that lands with a grin. Mattingly has been around forever, and he can clearly serve a purpose in the right role. He seems to understand players well, and if a team wants a bench coach who can offer in-game advice, he’s a reasonable fit.
But as a modern manager, the results have not been there. Across 13 seasons in the job, 2026 was the first winning season Mattingly had produced since 2015.
He has never won a playoff series. He never won a ring as a player.
Philadelphia got a short-lived lift after he took over this year, but the momentum faded, and the Phillies staggered into the postseason before Atlanta knocked them out.
From the Braves’ perspective, this is easy to appreciate. Mattingly has not been the kind of force that pushes that team forward. And with a Philadelphia owner eager to win a World Series, a front office built around big swings, and a manager who still feels like he’s operating from another era, Atlanta looks like it has plenty of reason to feel good about this one.
In Other News...
Braves Face Two Roster Decisions They Cant Afford To Miss
The Braves have spent plenty of time building around pitching, and Chris Sales 2024 season only reinforced how much top-end starting help can still carry this roster. But the longer view is harder to ignore, especially with the rotation needing more depth by 2027 and with health questions hanging over other arms. In the meantime, the lineup has its own soft spots, and the lack of production at several positions has put more pressure on the front office to sort out the next layer of everyday contributors.
One of the biggest calls sits at shortstop, where Atlanta has to decide whether Mauricio Dubn is best used as an everyday option or kept in his familiar utility lane. The late-inning side of the roster brings its own choice, too, with Raisel Iglesias now part of a discussion that is as much about timing and commitment as it is about performance. For a team trying to stay ahead of the National League pack, neither decision feels like one it can afford to get wrong. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Could Soon Face A Surprising Ozzie Albies Decision
The Braves already have one major long-term decision lined up with Ronald Acua Jr., whose club options for 2027 and 2028 are expected to be picked up. Ozzie Albies is in a different spot, but not by much in terms of importance to the roster. He has remained a core part of Atlantas infield and helped himself with a strong postseason showing, which only adds to the appeal of keeping him in place.
Still, the front office may have to weigh whether the best path is to hold onto him or explore a trade while there is still value to be extracted. Even if Atlanta is inclined to keep the lineup together, moving a player with Albies profile is not simple, since roster fit and financial realities both come into play. For now, the Braves appear headed toward another decision point that could shape the infield picture beyond next season. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Fans Will Love The Pitcher Suddenly Tied To Atlanta
After the Cleveland Guardians were bounced from the ALCS, pitcher Gavin Williams took to Instagram to post a message following the end of the season. It did not take long for Braves fans to notice the social-media ripple effect, with one commenter joking that Williams was headed to Atlanta and the post drawing just enough attention to stir the usual October rumor mill.
Williams liking that comment was the kind of small digital moment that can fuel a fan base, even if the baseball reality is far less dramatic. He is under team control through 2029, which makes any near-term move to Atlanta highly unlikely, but it was still an easy enough link for Braves supporters to latch onto while the offseason chatter begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]