According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, the Phillies reached out to Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez about their managerial opening before hiring Don Mattingly. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski formally requested permission from the Los Angeles Dodgers to speak with both former Phillies stars. Both politely declined.
What Was Reported
Dombrowski sought formal permission from the Dodgers to contact both men, a step indicating the Phillies viewed them as serious candidates. Ibanez took a couple of days to consider the offer before calling Dombrowski to decline, per Stark. Utley also turned down the opportunity. interest in Utley and Ibanez went beyond casual speculation. Dombrowski sought formal permission from the Dodgers, the clubhouse where both men currently work, to contact them about managing Philadelphia, a step that signals the team viewed both as real candidates rather than courtesy interviews.
According to the report, Utley and Ibanez politely declined the chance to interview for the job. Ibanez reportedly took a couple of days to weigh the offer before calling Dombrowski directly to turn it down.
What Utley And Ibanez Have Said
Utley told Stark that managing an MLB club was “not realistic” for him at this point. “Regardless if that (Phillies report) is true or not … considering where I’m currently at with my family, that commitment (to a job like managing) is not really realistic at the moment,” he said. Utley previously told the Philadelphia Inquirer that proximity to his Los Angeles home was the main reason he joined the Dodgers.Regardless if that (Phillies report) is true or not … considering where I’m currently at with my family, that commitment (to a job like managing) is not really realistic at the moment,” Utley said.
Utley previously told the Philadelphia Inquirer that staying close to his home in Los Angeles was the main reason he chose to work for the Dodgers over other baseball opportunities, a factor that lines up with his comments about family commitments now.
Why It Would Matter
The reported interest reflects an effort to reconnect with franchise history. Utley, 47, spent his playing career with the Phillies from 2003 to 2015, earned six All-Star nods and won the 2008 World Series. Ibanez, 54, played for Philadelphia from 2009 to 2011 and was an All-Star in 2010, hitting 34 home runs.
Both work for the Dodgers. Utley is a special assistant to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman; Ibanez serves as vice president of baseball development and special projects. The Phillies also pursued Alex Cora, but he declined to sit out 2027, per Stark.s attempt to reconnect with franchise history while filling its vacancy.
Utley, 47, spent his entire playing career with the Phillies from 2003 to 2015, made six All-Star teams and helped the franchise win the 2008 World Series. Ibanez, 54, played in Philadelphia from 2009 to 2011 and made his lone All-Star appearance in 2010, when he hit 34 home runs.
Both now work in the Dodgers’ front office. Utley serves as special assistant to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, and Ibanez has held the title of vice president of baseball development and special projects since 2024. Neither appears to have been willing to leave those roles for a dugout job in Philadelphia, based on the reported declines.
The Phillies also showed interest in Alex Cora during the same search, but he declined because he intended to sit out the 2027 season, according to the report. That left Philadelphia cycling through multiple names before settling on Mattingly.
What’s Next
Mattingly was named the Phillies’ manager on Wednesday after taking over on an interim basis April 28. He led the team to a 79-55 record and a wild card playoff berth before losing to Atlanta in three games.
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