MLB News: NL Manager Gets Contract Extension Despite Playoff Failures

The Philadelphia Phillies appeared to be on the precipice of sustained success when they reached the World Series in 2022, before ultimately losing to the Houston Astros. They reached the National League Championship Series again in 2023, but lost to a scorching-hot Arizona Diamondbacks team.

After a 2024 regular season in which they held the best record in the NL much of the way, the Phillies appeared poised for another long postseason run. But the rival New York Mets dashed those hopes, eliminating Philadelphia in a five-game NL Division Series despite not clinching a Wild Card berth until the season’s final day.

As the Mets roll along and the Phillies were left to wonder “what if,” a decision had to be made on manager Rob Thomson. His contract was set to expire after the 2025 season, giving him a wobbly platform to lead from as a potential “lame duck” manager.

Tuesday, the Phillies announced Thomson signed a contract extension through 2026. Though it’s a short one, the contract extension comes with an implicit acknowledgment: Thomson isn’t to blame for the Phillies’ postseason shortcomings.

The 61-year-old manager is 250-185 in three seasons on the bench since taking over for Joe Girardi midway through the 2022 season. His NL East title this season was his first. In the postseason, Thomson’s teams are 20-14.

Among active major league managers, only the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dave Roberts and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Boone have higher winning percentages.

According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Thomson lobbied general manager Dave Dombrowski to have his coaching staff return in 2025, and the GM agreed.

“They did lead us to 95 wins,” Dombrowski told Gelb. “They’ve been with us for a couple of years. A lot of cases, three years, and some beyond that. They’re very efficient. They do their jobs well. We have a good manager. They work well with the manager.”

Thomson was the Phillies’ bench coach when Girardi was fired in June 2022. Dombrowski appointed Thomson interim manager at first, then removed the “interim” label that October. After their 2023 postseason run, Thomson’s contract was extended through the end of the 2025 season.

Now, Thomson will remain in charge of the veteran Phillies team for at least another year. First baseman Bryce Harper is signed through 2031. Shortstop Trea Turner is signed through 2033. Pitchers Zack Wheeler (2027) and Aaron Nola (2030) are under long-term contracts as well.

Their manager isn’t going anywhere, either.

For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.