Apr 17, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles coach Fredi Gonzalez (left) talks with manager Brandon Hyde (right) in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA — The only change that the Phillies plan to make to their coaching staff in 2026 is adding a veteran bench coach, with the club announcing Thursday that Mike Calitri will shift from that role to the newly-created position of major league field coordinator.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged that the Phillies would prefer for the new bench coach to be someone with past managerial experience.
What will be interesting is whether the new bench coach is a veteran baseball man that has managed in the past, or a younger option that has been a manager and could again be in Philadelphia, perhaps even as Rob Thomson's successor.
With it feeling like the Phillies could benefit from adding a new set of eyes to a staff that's been together for a long time, here's a look at eight candidates, many of whom don't have prior experience with Dombrowski or Thomson.
Recently dismissed as the manager of the Twins, Baldelli, 44, posted 524-502 (.511) record over six seasons in Minnesota. He guided the Twins to three playoff appearances, and won AL Manager of the Year in 2019. That, of course, followed a seven-year playing career with the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. Baldelli hit a game-tying home run off of Ryan Madson in Game 5 of the 2008 World Series.
Washington is 73 and missed much of 2025 after undergoing quadruple bypass surgery. Still, he wanted to returned as manager of the Los Angeles Angels, but they ultimately chose not to retain him. The Texas Rangers won a pair of AL pennants under his watch, and he was a beloved assistant with the Atlanta Braves from 2017-2023. He would be an interesting short-term option.
Ross was a well-respected backup catcher during his 15-year playing career, winning World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox (2013) and Chicago Cubs (2016). Four years after helping Chicago snap a 108-year World Series drought, they hired him as manager in 2020. He went 262-284 (.480) in four seasons on the job before they threw him overboard for the chance to hire Craig Counsell. After two seasons out of the game, Ross has recently expressed a desire to get back into things. Obviously, Kyle Schwarber could tell you quite a bit about his former teammate and manager.
In addition to his 15-year playing career as a pitcher, Black has managed parts of 18 MLB seasons between the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies. It seems unlikely that the 2010 NL Manager of the Year, 68, will get another shot to manage, but he told USA Today's Bob Nightengale in September "I know I want to stay in the game." This would be a way for that to happen.
Also, he had one of the funniest interview responses you'll ever see to a question Phillies Nation's Ty Daubert asked before the home opener this year.
Rockies manager Bud Black on fans heckling the visiting bullpen: “That stuff doesn’t bother the Rockies, alright?” pic.twitter.com/Pc2PXEvaBV
The Pirates fired Shelton in May in a desperate attempt to save their already-doomed season. He posted a 306-440 record (.410) over parts of six seasons leading the Buccos. Obviously, that's not good, but it's hard to judge a manager in Pittsburgh when the team he's handed isn't even close to good enough to compete. Shelton actually began his coaching career in the system of the Yankees from 2000-2002, at which point Thomson was New York's director of player development. Prior history could help the 55-year-old if Thomson has heavy sway on this decision.
Dombrowski fired Farrell as manager of the Boston Red Sox back in October of 2017, so it's unclear what the relationship between the two is now. But the 63-year-old guided the Red Sox to the 2013 World Series title, and also managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 2011-2012. Farrell would provide an experienced option on the bench to pair with Thomson, if he would be interested in doing so.
The Baltimore Orioles fired Hyde as their skipper in May, but that didn't turn around what ended up being a disastrous season for the O's. Baltimore was tanking early in Hyde's tenure, but it's worth noting that he guided them to consecutive playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024 after his teams posted 100+ losses in 2019 and 2021. The 52-year-old won AL Manager of the Year in 2023, and was on Joe Maddon's staff with the World Series Champion Cubs in 2016.
The 61-year-old previously managed the Florida Marlins (2007-2010) and Braves (2011-2016). He actually returned to Atlanta's coaching staff as the third base coach midway through this past season, but with Brian Snitker retiring, Gonzalez's future with the Braves is unclear. Gonzalez actually was Hyde's bench coach from 2022-2024 in Baltimore. Prior to returning to the Braves this past summer, Gonzalez was seen regularly at Citizens Bank Park as he was working for the league evaluating the performance of umpires and lives in the Philadelphia area.
