Phillies extend Rob Thomson with 1-year contract, hire 2 assistant hitting coaches

In what is unsurprising news, the Phillies and manager Rob Thomson agreed to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Monday afternoon. The extension will keep Thomson as manager through the 2025 season.

The Phillies also hired Dustin Lind and Rafael Peña as assistant hitting coaches. Lind joins the Phillies from the San Francisco Giants, while Peña comes over from the Houston Astros.

Thomson, 60, was originally entering the final year of his deal this season. But with the extension, he is not going anywhere for another two seasons. He took over as Phillies interim manager in June 2022 when Joe Girardi was fired, leading the team to a 65-46 record and a World Series appearance. That interim label was dismissed in October 2022.

Last season, Thomson managed the Phillies to a 90-72 record and a second straight National League Championship Series. It was the Phils’ first 90-plus win season since 2011 when they won 102 games. Of course, the Phillies’ bats went cold, and they were eliminated by the Arizona Diamondbacks in a seven-game NLCS.

In two years as manager, Thomson has a 115-118 record including two lengthy postseason runs.

When asked about entering 2024 as a “lame duck” manager, Thomson said, “It doesn’t really bother me.”

“My whole career, I’ve never worried about my contract,” Thomson said in October. “I’ve never worried about the length of my contract. I’ve never worried about getting fired. It just doesn’t enter my [mind] because I can’t control it. I just can’t.”