Don Mattingly Joins Phillies as New Bench Coach. Does the Move Increase Odds to Land Bo Bichette?

The Philadelphia Phillies have reached an agreement with former Toronto Blue Jays coach Don Mattingly to serve as their bench coach for the 2026 season. The veteran coach has a great relationship with manager Rob Thomson, and the move unites Mattingly with his son, Preston Mattingly, who is the Phillies' General Manager.

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Don Mattingly is best known for his time with the New York Yankees, where he was a star first baseman, winning nine Gold Gloves, an AL MVP, and earning multiple All-Star selections.

The addition of Mattingly to the Phillies bench begs the question: can he lure star free agent Bo Bichette along with him?

The Phillies are one of several large-market clubs with interest in the star shortstop Bo Bichette, who finished second in the American League batting race with a .311 average. If the Phillies were to acquire Bichette, he would likely slide to second base, a move that would signal the organization moving on from Stott. It has also been reported by MLB insider, Jon Heyman, that Mattingly and Bichette have an "excellent relationship" and if you're a Phils fan this should have you chomping at the bit. Signing Mattingly absolutely increases the likelihood of the Phils landing Bichette.

The Phillies are also waiting on a decision from catcher J.T. Realmuto, who has been taking what seems to be an eternity on his decision. If the Phillies fail to reach an agreement with J.T. Realmuto, it becomes even more important to land an impact bat like Bo Bichette.