Breaking News: Star is back as a volunteer in Tennessee.
Regardless of his nickname, Rob Thomson will be able to be referred to be the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies for at least two seasons.
Thomson agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Phillies that would expire after the team’s two straight NL Championship Series appearances. The deal would last through the 2025 season.
He spent much of 2022 in the role of interim manager. Thomson won’t have to make a weak debut in 2024.
“It’s good to know that you’ve got that extra year, but if I didn’t receive it, it probably wouldn’t have concerned me,” said Thomson on Monday at baseball’s winter meetings.
The 60-year-old has a 155-118 record as the Phillies manager since Joe Girardi was replaced on June 3, 2022, by veteran bench coach Thomson. Thomson led the Phillies to the 2022 World Series, but the Astros of Houston won the series in six games. The Phillies made a run at the NLCS this season, but they were defeated 2-0 and 3-2 at home in Games 6 and 7 of their series against Arizona.
Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Kyle Schwarber combined for 5 for 53 (.094) with 22 strikeouts, 2 RBIs, and 11 walks in Philadelphia’s four NLCS losses. Against six Arizona pitchers in Game 7, the four batted just 1 for 15, striking out five and collecting no RBI.