Phillies Extend Rob Thomson Through 2026, Entire Staff will Return for 2025
Philadelphia Phillies team President Dave Dombrowski announced on Tuesday that manager Rob Thomson has had his contract extended through the 2026 season and his entire coaching staff will return for 2025.
"This is the only place I want to be, this will be my last stop," Thomson said. I am very happy our entire coaching staff is coming back. They work hard and get results."
Thomson, 61, has a record of 250-185 since taking over as the manager on June 3, 2022. His 575 winning percentage is the best among all managers in Phillies history.
Dombrowski said the team's 95 wins and success over Thomson's tenure was a reason for Thomson to be extended and the staff to return.
The Phillies lost 3-1 in their five-game Divisional Round series against the New York Mets, making it the third straight season the Phillies were bounced from the playoffs.
The team has been bounced from the playoffs a round earlier in each season since Thomson took over in 2022 after the team let Joe Girardi go, leading the Phillies to a 65-46 record and a trip to the World Series, losing 4-2 to the Astros. The following season they won 90 games, losing in the NLCS to the Diamondbacks and this season the team won the N.L. East with 95 wins, losing in the NLDS to the Mets.
Dombrowski gave the status of various spots on the team, saying this infield is intact at this time, but the outfield is a bit unsettled. He seems to think Brandon Marsh and Nick Castellanos will be back and that one outfield spot is open. He said the team needs more offense from Johan Rojas and that he will live in Clearwater this winter to work on that aspect of his game.
When it comes to the teams' offense, Thomson said he would like to see the team use all fields more and thinks that is something that will help the team moving forward.
He said that the team expects to have competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, mentioning Taijuan Walker will likely be at Spring Training and will have to earn a spot in the Phillies rotation.
"I think we will see improvement," Thomson stated.
Dombrowski mentioned Andrew Painter as a potential starter but will have to keep an eye on how they monitor his innings.
Dombrowski added he doesn't think the team is missing a piece, that the team just didn't play well at the right time.
"The roster is a championship roster," Thomson said. "Do we turn the lineup around? Do we give guys more days off?"
(more coming...)
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