Alex Cora's Phillies surprise gives Mariners dangerous competition on manager market

With Jerry Dipoto now in the last chance saloon for his tenure in Seattle, it's imperative to get it right with his next managerial hire. As such, you can't blame him for being meticulous and not rushing into any decision as to who takes over the reins with the Mariners. However, if the latest news coming out of Philadelphia is anything to go by, it might be time for Dipoto to speed things up, with the added genuine threat of finishing second-best for whoever he wants.

As reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Alex Cora has informed the Phillies he will not be managing in 2027, instead wanting to take the season off. Cora has a connection with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, as the duo previously working together in Boston and helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2018. This is the second time Cora has spurned Dombrowski after also turning down the manager's job back in April, and now the Phillies will look elsewhere.

This turn of events is somewhat surprising, with many believing that a pairing between Cora and Dombrowski in Philadelphia was a shoo-in. As per Matt Gelb and Jayson Stark of The Athletic, the Phillies will potentially turn to Don Mattingly for another season after he took over as interim manager this year and led the team to a wild card berth. Or they could hit the open market in search of someone else, which is what should really make the Mariners nervous.

This scenario opens up the possibility of the Phillies being competition for the likes of Stephen Vogt, Kristopher Negrón, Rocco Baldelli and Kai Correa. Who knows? But really, that's the point. With Vogt and Negrón specifically, how much does their previous connection to the Mariners matter, if an organization like the Phillies enters the fray?

The M's are in a better position than ever, but in many ways still pale in comparison to the Phillies

The Mariners have experienced winning more than at any other time in franchise history, since Dipoto arrived in Seattle, including being one of just four Major League teams to win 85+ games each season between 2021-25. However, the reality is the M's have only been to the playoffs twice in 11 years with Dipoto. The Phillies meanwhile, have been to the playoffs in each of these past five seasons, which includes two NLCS appearances and one trip to the World Series.

What makes the Phillies particularly dangerous though, is their approach to the financial side of things. Critics suggest Mariners ownership doesn't have the burning desire to win a championship, with just one example of having the 16th-ranked Opening Day payroll this year. The Phillies meanwhile, were fourth in payroll on Opening Day. This is nothing new, with them ranking in the top five every year since 2021.

Now extend the respective financial philosophies towards the manager's position. As Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times recently told Jason Puckett on Puck Sports, the Mariners pay a little over $1 million per year. Contrast this with the Phillies' willingness to pay Cora, whose three-year contract with the Red Sox had an annual average of $7.25 million. You know Dombrowski is going to offer whatever it takes to secure their next manager.

The Mariners already missed out on Torey Louvullo and the probability is that a reunion with Vogt is unlikely just because of what would be required to make it a reality. In any event, whoever Dipoto has his eyes on -- whether it be Negrón, Baldelli, Correra or someone else -- he must now contend with the added pressure of the Phillies also searching for a new manger. Cora might never have been more unpopular in Seattle.

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