Phillies Not Retaining Kevin Long, Bobby Dickerson
MLB Trade Rumors • • sports
Key Points:
- The Philadelphia Phillies are parting ways with hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson ahead of the 2027 season, following a disappointing offensive and defensive performance in 2026.
- Kevin Long, who was signed through 2028 after an extension post-2025, is expected to attract interest from other teams, including the Mets, partly due to his good relationship with Juan Soto.
- Interim manager Don Mattingly, recently signed to a two-year contract, is making staff changes; Anthony Contreras has been promoted from Triple-A manager to third base coach, replacing Dusty Wathan who moved to bench coach.
- The Phillies' offense declined in 2026, with a team wRC+ of 92, and defensive metrics remained poor, ranking near the bottom of MLB in Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average.
- Despite previous playoff appearances and offensive improvements under Long, the Phillies’ recent struggles and defensive issues have prompted a shift in coaching strategy as the team looks to improve for the future.
