Phillies Hire Carlos Mendoza as Infield Coach

The Philadelphia Phillies have hired former New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza as their infield and third-base coach, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced Thursday. Mendoza will join the staff led by Don Mattingly, whom the Phillies named their full-time manager earlier this week. The appointment follows a season in which Philadelphia’s infield defense drew attention. The team ranked 28th in major-league defensive efficiency in 2025, according to one report. The sources do not establish whether Mendoza’s hiring will change the team’s defensive performance. Mendoza, 46, was fired by the Mets during the 2026 season after the team opened 34-47. His record as New York’s manager was 206-199. The Phillies’ announcement places him in a coaching role after three seasons managing the Mets, rather than another major-league managerial post. Mendoza’s tenure included a strong postseason run in 2024. The Mets reached the National League Championship Series that year before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. New York did not return to that level in 2026, and the club dismissed Mendoza midway through the season. Before managing the Mets, Mendoza worked in...