2 Blue Jays coaches the Phillies could target after Alex Cora rejection

The Philadelphia Phillies’ managerial search has encountered another obstacle. Alex Cora reportedly declined an invitation for formal talks, choosing instead to take another year away from managing.

Former Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly guided Philadelphia to the NLDS after taking over during the 2026 season, but he has said he is not ready to return as manager despite receiving support from his players. The Phillies may ultimately have little choice but to revisit Mattingly as an option, but two members of Toronto’s current staff could also merit consideration.

DeMarlo Hale and Pete Walker could draw interest from the Phillies in their managerial search

DeMarlo Hale

Hale returned to Toronto as associate manager ahead of the 2024 season after previously serving as the Blue Jays’ bench coach from 2013 to 2018. That first stint with the club included the Blue Jays' runs to the ALCS in 2015 and 2016. Those years gave him a lot of experience inside the high-pressure clubhouse of a contending team.

Between his two tenures in Toronto, Hale spent the 2021 through 2023 seasons as Cleveland’s bench coach and gained experience as an acting manager. He has built a reputation as a trusted mentor and an operational “Mr. Fix-It” capable of building those connections between the front office, coaching staff and players.

He is an incredibly influential member of the Blue Jays' current clubhouse. The players have spoken highly of Hale’s impact. In an article on BlueJays.com by Keegan Matheson, Blue Jays' outfielder Myles Straw said, "Honestly, as much as I hate to say it, he’s like a father figure to me. I love him. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve had in the game. Hopefully, he doesn’t see this, because I don’t need his head to blow up.”

Straw has had multiple opportunities to cross paths with Hale with his stints in Cleveland and Toronto. Having the support of players like Straw, who aren't every day guys, but end up playing big roles for the team, is an important quality for any coach, let alone the manager of the team. For a Phillies squad searching for a steady voice after what ended as a disappointing season, that could be exactly what they are searching for.

Pete Walker

Walker would represent a less conventional choice, but few coaches can match his continuity and organizational experience. He is the longest-tenured active MLB pitching coach with one team and has spent much of his playing and coaching career with the Blue Jays.

He pitched four of his eight major-league seasons with Toronto, making 124 of his 144 career appearances and all 31 of his starts for the club. Walker returned to the organization in 2009 to work with rehabbing pitchers before guiding Double-A New Hampshire’s staff during its 2011 Eastern League championship season.

Walker joined Toronto’s major-league staff as bullpen coach in 2012 and was promoted to pitching coach the following year. He has since worked under John Gibbons, Charlie Montoyo and John Schneider while helping guide multiple Blue Jays teams to the postseason, including a World Series appearance.

Under Walker, many pitchers have thrived. One of the best recent examples is Walker helping refine Robbie Ray's game, turning him from a trade deadline castoff into a Cy Young award winner in one season. Not to mention the incredible year the Blue Jays just got out of Dylan Cease - who will likely finish second in Cy Young voting this year.

Philadelphia would have to determine whether Walker’s pitching expertise and extensive dugout experience translate to the manager’s role. Walker can be seen having extensive conversations with Schneider during Blue Jays games about their pitching plans and upcoming bullpen moves.

Hale is the more obvious candidate because of his prior acting-manager experience, but both coaches offer the credibility, postseason background and player relationships the Phillies appear to need.

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