Chase Utley, now a first‑year special assistant to Dodgers chief of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, is widely hailed as one of the Phillies’ all‑time greats. From 2003‑15 he posted a 62.0 bWAR, second only to Hall‑of‑Famer Mike Schmidt among Phillies hitters, and earned six All‑Star selections. Utley helped Philadelphia capture two NL pennants and the 2008 World Series title. After a three‑year stint with Los Angeles, he was inducted onto the Phillies Wall of Fame in August.
When asked if a Phillies managerial gig was on the table, the 47‑year‑old Utley told Stark, “Whether that report is true or not … given my family situation, committing to a role like managing isn’t realistic right now.”
Raúl Ibáñez appeared more receptive than Utley. He took a few days, then called Dombrowski to confirm he’ll stay in Los Angeles. The outfielder, a 2009‑11 Phillie, retired after 2014 and immediately attracted managerial interest, even becoming a finalist for the Rays’ job before they hired Kevin Cash. In my view, Ibáñez’s blend of Dodgers executive experience, ESPN work and MLB projects gives him a broader skill set than Utley.
With manager Joe Cora taking a sabbatical and both former players still on the Dodgers staff, the Phils stick with Andy Mattingly. Since replacing Rob Thomson on April 28, Mattingly has steered the club to a 79‑55 record, culminating in an 88‑74 season and a fifth straight playoff appearance, though they fell to the Braves in a three‑game Wild Card series.