Raul Ibanez at least paused before turning down the Phillies’ manager opening.
Philadelphia reached out to the former outfielder, along with Chase Utley, about becoming the club’s next manager. Both said no, and the Phillies ultimately chose to bring back Don Mattingly on a permanent basis.
Utley made it clear he wasn’t especially drawn to the idea of jumping into management right now. Ibanez, though, gave the offer a real look.
Per The Athletic, he spent a couple of days weighing the chance to manage the Phillies before deciding he would remain in his current role with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has spent the last three seasons as LA’s vice president of baseball development and special projects.
Ibanez’s connection to Philadelphia runs deep. He played three successful seasons for the Phillies from 2009-11, and since retiring from MLB in 2014 he has stayed busy in several different corners of the sport. In addition to his work with the Dodgers, he has also spent time in broadcast media and in the commissioner’s office.
That doesn’t mean the dugout has never come calling. The Athletic reported that Ibanez has passed on multiple chances to step into a managerial job.
So for now, the intrigue around his Phillies conversations can be read two ways: as a nod to his ties to the organization, or as a sign that he may be more open than before to eventually managing. Either way, the Phillies are moving ahead with Mattingly back in charge as they try to finally break through in the postseason.
In Other News...
Phillies May Need Their Boldest Pitching Gamble Yet
Tarik Skubal is already looking like one of the biggest names who could reach the market for 2027, and that naturally puts the Phillies in the conversation. With a rotation built to win now and a front office that has shown a willingness to chase premium talent, Philadelphia would be a logical suitor if Skubal gets anywhere near free agency. His recent performance has only sharpened the appeal, and it also helps explain why his eventual price tag could become one of the defining talking points of the next offseason.
For the Phillies, the question is less about interest than about appetite. They have the financial flexibility to chase a major contract, but landing a pitcher of Skubals caliber would still require a bold commitment and a level of risk that comes with betting on an ace at the top of the market. If the organization decides to make that push, it would say plenty about how aggressively it intends to keep its title window wide open. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Bullpen Is Taking Shape But One Need Still Looms
Don Mattingly is in place on a two-year contract, and now the Phillies are spending the offseason trying to firm up the edges of a bullpen that should look better than it did a year ago. Team president Dave Dombrowski has said he feels good about several of the arms already in the mix, which at least gives Philadelphia a starting point as it moves through a market that can change quickly once winter shopping gets underway.
Still, one need continues to stand out: a left-handed reliever. The Phillies are weighing free-agent possibilities there while also trying to navigate the uncertainty hanging over the sport with a potential lockout in the background, a factor that could complicate the timing of every move. For a club trying to build a more reliable relief group, that missing lefty remains the clearest unfinished item on the list. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Infield Questions Could Define How This Offseason Unfolds
The Phillies are heading into an offseason that could shape the next phase of their roster as much as any outside move. After an early postseason exit, the organization is leaning toward a familiar theme with a new urgency: get younger, create more flexibility, and see which internal options can help narrow the gap. Aidan Miller is one of the names to watch in that conversation, and after getting past a back injury, he gives the club another layer of versatility to consider as it maps out the winter.
Philadelphias approach is complicated by uncertainty around the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, which makes the timing and scope of any broader roster overhaul harder to read. For now, the Phillies appear prepared to let their farm system play a bigger role in the conversation, with young players expected to get more attention as the team looks for improvement from within. How quickly those pieces can be trusted, and where they fit best, may end up defining the infield discussion all offseason long. [Read more 🡒]