Phillies Linked to Former Cubs Manager to Replace Don Mattingly

The Philadelphia Phillies are currently in the process of trying to find a new manager this offseason after another early playoff exit.

Interim manager Don Mattingly could return, but there was an expectation that he would only be helping the club thoughout the year. Most people in baseball believed that former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora would be taking over, but he snubbed the Phillies yet again.

This now leaves Philadelphia in a weird spot, and one where Mattingly could end up returning. But if the Phillies want to branch out to find a new manager, there are a few options available to them.

Picking the correct person to lead them could be the biggest move that the Phillies make all offseason. Even with the personnel moves on the roster, having the right manager does change everything for a clubhouse.

MLB analyst Cole Weintraub of CBS Sports Philadelphia put together a list of candidates to be named manager of the Phillies for next season after the Cora snub. One of them was former Chicago Cubs skipper David Ross, and he could be very intriguing for Philadelphia to consider.

Ross managed the Cubs for four seasons after 2020, reaching the playoffs in his first year with the team. The former player has been known to be a player's manager, and the guys in the Cubs locker room seemed to enjoy being around him.

With Chicago, Ross has a 262-284 record, and he has been itching to get back into a major league clubhouse. The lack of success with the Cubs isn't all on Ross, and the team just didn't have the necessary pieces to truly compete.

While Ross only made the playoffs once with the Cubs, he could bring some new eneergy to the Phillies organization. Ross is only 49 years old, so he could be a long-term option for this team, rather than someone like Mattingly.

If Philadelphia prefers to not be hiring a new manager every other season, Ross could be one of the better options. Sometimes it takes a breathe of fresh air for a team to get over the hump, and Ross could provide that for the Phillies.

With him being interested in managing again, the Phillies may as well look into Ross, giving him a chance to make his case. If anything, Ross is an experienced manager who could help give this group a new sense of direction after multiple early playoff exits.