Updated October 6, 2026, 11:11 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Phillies were once again pushed back by Alex Cora.
Dave Dombrowski, Phillies president of baseball operations, spoke with Cora about becoming their manager in 2027, but Cora informed Dombrowski he was taking the season off, a senior Phillies executive with direct knowledge of their discussions told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Phillies still have not decided who will lead their team.
Cora, who won a World Series with the Red Sox with Dombrowski in 2018, was offered the Phillies job in April and he declined it, saying he wanted to spend the rest of the summer with his family.
Now, after being sued again, he has declined, with Cora still owing the Red Sox approximately $7.25 million in 2027, the third and final year of his three-year, $21.75 million contract.
Cora did not immediately respond to a text message from USA TODAY Sports.
Don Mattingly, who took over the Phillies as interim coach and led them to a wild-card berth, is still under contract in 2027 but as bench coach. He turned the team around and went 79-55 in the regular season, but nearly coughed up his playoff spot down the stretch, then lost to Atlanta in the NL wild card series.
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