The Philadelphia Phillies re-signed left-handed reliever Tim Mayza to a one-year deal and hired Carlos Mendoza as their third base and infield coach, according to MLB Trade Rumors. The moves come as Philadelphia reshapes Don Mattingly’s coaching staff following the team’s early playoff exit.
Mendoza, 46, was fired by the Mets in the middle of the 2026 season after going 34-47, according to Sporting News. He now joins the Phillies’ staff on the infield, taking over third base coaching duties as Anthony Contreras shifts into a new role, according to the New York Post.
The Terms: Mayza’s Contract And Mendoza’s New Role
Mayza’s deal with Philadelphia is a straight one-year contract, keeping the 34-year-old in the Phillies bullpen for 2027. Mendoza’s hire as third base and infield coach is part of a broader staff shakeup under Mattingly, who signed a two-year contract covering the 2027 and 2028 seasons, according to Yahoo Sports.
Hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson will not return to the Phillies in 2027, Yahoo Sports reported. No replacement has been named for the hitting coach job.
Why It Happened: Phillies Address Defense And Bullpen Depth
Philadelphia’s defense was a weak spot in 2026. The club tied for the league’s worst defensive runs saved mark at minus-51 and ranked in the bottom 10 in outs above average at minus-15, according to the New York Post. Bringing in Mendoza to work with the infield directly targets that trouble spot.
Offensively, the Phillies ranked 22nd in OPS at .707 last season, another area the coaching changes appear aimed at fixing, though no replacement hitting coach has been announced.
Keeping Mayza addresses bullpen stability. He threw 67 1/3 innings in 2026 with a 3.48 ERA, striking out 23.6% of batters faced against a 6.6% walk rate. He induced ground balls at a 48.1% clip and held left-handed hitters to a .271 weighted on-base average, though right-handed batters reached .302 wOBA against him. He recorded just two holds on the year.
Player And Coach Background
Mayza debuted with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 before being released in July 2024. He had brief stints with the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates before Philadelphia claimed him off waivers from Pittsburgh in August 2025. He threw just 7 1/3 innings for the Phillies that year on a minor league deal before winning a bullpen spot out of spring training in 2026.
Mendoza spent 2018 through 2023 as a coach with the Yankees before taking over as Mets manager. He went 89-73 in 2024, a season that ended with a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games in the NLCS, and followed that with an 83-79 mark in 2025.
What’s Next For Philadelphia
Mattingly’s Phillies finished 79-55 under his direction in 2026 before Philadelphia was eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Wild Card Series. The team has not named a replacement for Long at hitting coach, and further staff moves could follow as Mattingly builds out his group for the 2027 season. Philadelphia fans can track those decisions alongside the questions facing the Phillies’ veteran core this offseason.
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