ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two months after another October that ended sooner than expected, the Phillies made clear Tuesday that their confidence in Rob Thomson remains firm. The club signed its manager to a one-year extension through the 2027 season.
The news landed on the same day the Phillies moved to keep one of their most important players in Philadelphia. Earlier Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the team had reached agreement on a five-year, $150 million contract with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.
For a club coming off back-to-back National League East titles and back-to-back postseason exits in the Division Series, the message was unmistakable: the Phillies are staying the course with the core they trust — on the field and in the dugout.
Schwarber, 32, returns after one of the most productive seasons of his career. He led the National League with 56 home runs and drove in 132 runs while matching the highest OPS of his career at .928. It marked his fourth straight season with at least 38 home runs, further establishing him as one of the premier left-handed power hitters in the sport. Inside the clubhouse, his presence remains as valued as his production.
His return preserves the heart of a veteran lineup whose future still includes unresolved questions, most notably the status of catcher J.T. Realmuto, who turns 34 in March. His situation remains one of the major storylines of the Phillies’ offseason.
Thomson’s new deal caps a run of success rarely seen in baseball. A National League Manager of the Year finalist this season, he led the Phillies to their second straight division title and became only the fourth manager in MLB history to reach the postseason in each of his first four full seasons, joining Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone, and Mike Matheny. He is only the third manager in Phillies history to win consecutive division titles, following Charlie Manuel and Danny Ozark.
Since taking over on June 3, 2022, Thomson has overseen one of the winningest stretches in the majors. The Phillies’ 346 victories under him are the second-most in baseball during that span, and their .580 winning percentage ranks second as well — behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But the postseason has yielded frustration. The Phillies reached the World Series in 2022 and the NLCS in 2023 before being eliminated in the NLDS the past two years. This October, they fell to the Dodgers in four games; Los Angeles went on to win its second straight World Series title.
Thomson has absorbed his share of scrutiny, particularly regarding October bullpen decisions and lineup construction. Even so, the organization continues to view him as the stabilizing force for a roster that blends an accomplished core with impact prospects nearing the majors. Outfielder Justin Crawford, infielder Aidan Miller, and right-hander Andrew Painter — the club’s top three prospects — are expected to arrive in Philadelphia in the near future.
Thomson, 62, has been part of the Phillies’ coaching staff since 2018 and previously spent a decade on the New York Yankees’ staff, winning a World Series ring in 2009. His steady approach and winning resume have guided the Phillies through one of the most successful periods in franchise history.
On Tuesday, the Phillies made it clear they intend for that run to continue.
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