The hammer finally fell on Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thompson on Tuesday morning. After a poor 9–19 start and losing 11 of their last 12, the club fired the manager a month into his fifth season. Bench coach – and former captain of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins – Don Mattingly has been given the keys to the team as interim manager and will be asked to guide them back into playoff contention over the remainder of the season.

Thompson’s dismissal ended a more than four-year run where the Phillies were a consistent playoff team, reaching the World Series in their first season (2022), but never reaching the potential of an expensive roster. While Mattingly is a solid replacement who could turn this campaign around, things could go in a bad direction in the coming months.

If Mattingly can’t save the Phillies this season, let’s take a look at five potential options to take over as full-time manager next season.

Albert Pujols, Angels special assistant and team DR manager

St. Louis Cardinals icon Albert Pujols has quietly emerged as an intriguing managerial candidate in baseball circles. Since retiring four years ago, he has worked as a special assistant for the Los Angeles Angels and was a candidate for their manager’s job in the fall.

In March, he offered evidence of his captaincy skills when he guided a star-studded Dominican Republic team to the World Baseball Classic semifinals. Showing he can deal with a room full of big personalities and egos. This, along with his impressive resume as a player, would make him an interesting choice for the Phillies’ job.

David Ross, former Cubs manager

If the Phillies are looking for a manager again this fall, another interesting veteran skipper who could come into play is former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross. Although he wasn’t amazing in Chi-Town, he was still very solid, and the team had a record of 83–79 before being replaced by Craig Council.

Ross deserves another shot as a manager and is well prepared for the pressures of this market after years as a player and manager in Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago.

Alex Cora, former Red Sox manager

Last weekend, the Boston Red Sox surprised many when they fired manager Alex Cora after eight seasons. While the team has had a few losing seasons under his watch (including an 11-17 start this year), the 50-year-old has had some very good years in Beantown, including a World Series victory in 2018.

Furthermore, he remains one of the most respected managers in the game because he brought the best out of the talent he had. He wasn’t the one to trade stars like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman or let them walk. Or continued to spend big to improve the roster despite being in a bigger market.

A new report claims the Phillies actually offered Thompson a job after deciding to move on from him. However, he chose to pass up the opportunity and spend time with his family. He may have a different priority in November.

Rodney Linares, Rays bench coach

Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Rodney Linares has emerged as a top managerial candidate in baseball circles. He has been in baseball for over two decades and has earned a reputation for being strong in the area of ​​player development. Played a key role in turning several prospects into stars, including Jose Altuve.

However, he has become a favorite of the players due to his coaching style. The 48-year-old will bring a fresh perspective to the Phillies clubhouse.

James Rawson, Yankees hitting coach

Another up-and-coming coach is the New York Yankees’ hitting coach, James Rawson. He has received much praise for his ability to connect with players and blend analytics with baseball psychology. He has had success at several stops and was in the running for the Minnesota Twins job late last year before choosing to remain with the Yanks. Rawson will likely be on the Phillies radar if they don’t retain Mattingly in 2027.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

It seems like a Thanos-level inevitability that the New York Mets are going to fire manager Carlos Mendoza at the start of their series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, tied for the worst record in MLB at 9-19.

A 12-game losing streak dominated most of April, and when they broke the slump with consecutive wins last week, they dropped three of four to one of the worst franchises of the last decade, the Colorado Rockies. It’s been a poor start to the season that can’t be blamed on a number of major injuries. One of the most expensive rosters in the game has enough talent to be much better than this.

Add in the fact that the Mets had a historic collapse at the end of last season, and it seems highly unlikely that Mendoza is still on the bench by mid-May. So, who can New York turn to in an effort to save the season and become the first team in MLB history to make the playoffs despite a 12-game losing streak?

We’re looking to answer that question with seven possible options to take over as Mets manager soon.

Kai Correa, Mets bench coach

The most likely replacement for Mendoza as manager of the Mets will be their new bench coach, Kai Correa. The 37-year-old has been viewed as a manager of the future in MLB circles for the past few years after stints as an assistant with the San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Guardians.

There was also speculation in February that he was hired specifically as a backup plan if Mendoza’s struggles continued early this season. Of all the possible options, Correa would likely be team president David Stearns’ choice.

Alex Cora, former Red Sox manager

Last weekend, the Boston Red Sox surprised many when they fired manager Alex Cora after eight seasons. While the team has had a few losing seasons under his watch (including an 11-17 start this year), the 50-year-old has had some very good years in Beantown, including a World Series victory in 2018.

Furthermore, he remains one of the most respected managers in the game because he brought the best out of the talent he had. He wasn’t the one to trade stars like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman or let them walk. Or continued to spend big to improve the roster despite being in a bigger market.

Although it will be difficult to walk away from the options available in the market and change things, Cora has the respect for the game that will give him a big chance in this.

Joe Girardi, former Phillies and Yankees manager

It’s possible that Stearns feels Correa is not ready to be thrust into such a high-pressure situation, or owner Steve Cohen makes a move to bring in a big name to serve as interim manager for the remainder of the season. That’s why former New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi could be an option.

Although his performance in Philly was disappointing, he still has a World Series title on his resume (2009 with the Yanks) and is well-versed in handling the New York media. Girardi is one of the few managers available who can jump into such a difficult situation and possibly succeed.

Carlos Beltran, Mets special assistant

In 2019, Mets legend Carlos Beltrán was hired as the team’s manager. However, he lost his job due to his involvement in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Nevertheless, he remains a part of the organization as a special assistant and has been associated with other managerial jobs over the years.

Beltran is a well-respected person of the game and his knowledge of the Mets organization is beneficial at this time. Additionally, he may be able to connect with the team’s Latin stars better than Mendoza as he was once an elite star in MLB.

David Ross, former Cubs manager

The managerial options for the Mets are few, with the season having just started a few weeks ago. However, one interesting veteran skipper who could be in the game if the team fires Mendoza is former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross.

Although he wasn’t amazing in Chi-Town, he was still very solid, and the team had a record of 83–79 before being replaced by Craig Council. If New York is interested in giving a former manager the rest of the season to prove they can do the job long term, Ross is a sensible choice.

Dick Scott, Mets Triple-A manager

Another short-term option with experience who could jump into the job on short notice is current Mets Triple-A manager Dick Scott. He has done a solid job at Syracuse, having been in the game for more than two decades, and previously served as the Mets’ bench coach in 2016 and 2017. So he knows the market pressure.

Although he won’t be the top choice, the Red Sox turned to their own Triple-A manager, Chad Tracy, to replace Cora last week.

Buck Showalter, Mets manager before Mendoza

Yes, Stearns ousted Buck Showalter from running for president for the first time in 2024. But New York sports fans have seen managers or coaches fired and return in the same role or with another NYC team. Besides, desperate times call for desperate measures, and the experienced coach who can jump into such a messy situation and turn things around is Showalter.

Let’s not forget that in 2022, he led the team to its first 100-plus win season since the 1980s. The biggest issue is that this is a team that is built to reach the World Series this autumn, and in more than 22 years as a big league manager, that’s something the soon-to-be 70-year-old has never accomplished.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Crystal Palace midfielder Matheus França is approaching the final stages of his unsuccessful loan spell at Vasco da Gama. Brazilian media suggest that the next three months could be the last chance for either party to understand the move.

The 21-year-old joined the Rio club on loan until June in search of minutes and confidence after a difficult spell in England. However, his time spent in Brazil has had little impact on the pitch so far. França has played 21 matches for Vasco and is yet to register a goal or assist, and The fans wanted him gone.

The lack of impact became so noticeable that Vasco even considered terminating the loan early at one stage. brazilian report indicated that this possibility had been discussed internally after França lost his place in the team and struggled to influence matches.

In recent weeks, he had become a peripheral figure in the team, sometimes remaining on the bench when former manager Fernando Diniz rotated the starting eleven.

Renato Gaucho Connection

That situation has now taken an unexpected turn with the arrival of Renato Gacho as Vasco’s new manager, following the dismissal of Fernando Diniz.

According to Brazilian outlet RTI gameThe appointment of the coach could provide Franca with one last opportunity to rediscover his best football before the loan expires.

Renato already knows the player well from his time spent with him at Flamengo, where the midfielder first started to get closer to the senior team.

França made his professional debut in early 2021. However, during Renato Gacho’s spell the following season he began to spend more consistent time training with the first team.

He was only 17 years old at the time and had gone through a successful youth cycle that included Brazilian U17 titles.

last month to change the story

That development paved the way for Franca to have a breakout year in 2022. He finished the season with 23 appearances and six goals for Flamengo, performances which ultimately Crystal Palace persuaded to invest €20m (£17m) In attacking midfielder.

The move to England never progressed fully. Injuries limited his continuity and Palace sanctioned Vasco on loan in an attempt to rebuild rhythm and confidence in Brazil.

However, so far this plan has not worked. França’s output has been minimal, and his role in the team has fluctuated throughout the season.

With Renato Gaucho now in charge and only a few months remaining on the loan, the Brazilian media see this situation as the last window for the player to turn things around.

If that doesn’t happen soon, França is expected to return to Crystal Palace in June with the same doubts that surrounded him when the loan began.

NAPOLI and Juventus are competing for Wolverhampton Wanderers pair Andre and Joao Gomes this summer.

This is according to Calciomercato. The Italian website report that the Wolves star is firmly in the spotlight in Italy.

According to their information, the Wolves pair are being targeted by clubs across Europe, including Italy, this summer.

Serie A champions Napoli are already in talks with Gomes over a move this summer.

efforts of napoli and juventus

His current deal at Molineux runs until June 2030. Reports elsewhere in Italy say Antonio Conte’s side are in contact with the 25-year-old’s agent.

There is no mention of a possible transfer fee at this point. Wolves paid Flamengo €18.7m in 2023 and will certainly want a big return on that fee, regardless of relegation to the Championship.

Meanwhile, Juventus are ‘pursuing’ Andre. At this stage his efforts appear to be less far-reaching for Gomes than those at Napoli. But the Italian giants are interested in the 24-year-old and are making moves.

Again, there is no mention of what Juventus will pay. Wolves paid €22m for Andre in 2024 and, again, will certainly want to profit on that figure.

What happens next with Andre and Gomes?

However, Sport Witness can estimate Wolves’ asking price, Thanks for a report from last month. That report from Bolavip states that Palmeiras were trying to sign the midfielder.

The Brazilian side made attempts to broker a deal but were put off by Wolves’ demand of €40m.

That figure was far beyond their reach, and the deal was canceled outright. It’s easy to imagine that Wolves would make similar demands of him if he moved to Juventus this summer.

Napoli’s interest in Joao Gomes is nothing new. In fact, Sport Witness covered a report on February 21^{scheduled tribe} Stating that the Italian side were ‘making moves’ to sign him from Wolves this summer. Various other reports thereafter made their interest clear.

Wolves contract, price and agent clues

Andre has a Wolves contract running until 2029, and Transfermarkt estimate his value at €28m. He is represented by Carlos Leite Sports.

Joao Gomes is valued at €40 million on a contract until 2030, including the option of a further year. Interestingly, they are represented by the same agency, which gives a big hint as to where these claims are coming from.

Given Wolves’ situation and almost certain relegation from the Premier League, its natural agents are working to land their clients elsewhere. The duo are the two most valuable players in the Carlos Leite Sports book, and the agency wouldn’t want them in the championship.

It’s looked hopeless at many points this season, but somehow, the Milwaukee Bucks are still alive in the playoff race — especially now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is back in action after a long absence of more than a month due to a calf injury.

Although it is mathematically possible for the Bucks to make the play-in tournament, as at the time of writing, they are only four games behind the Atlanta Hawks in the standings, the fact that they are not in the playoff picture is a clear indication that the team is not very good right now.

There’s no denying Antetokounmpo’s greatness, but the prolonged absence of a superstar shouldn’t mean the team will collapse around him. For the Bucks, they have collapsed most of the season when Antetokounmpo is on the mend. They’ve gone 11-18 without him, and that won’t cut it.

Of course, the good news is that Antetokounmpo remains on the roster, even though he was on the trade block just a month ago and it looked like a blockbuster trade involving him would finally materialize.

It simply means that the Bucks are still on the clock, as there is not zero chance that Antetokounmpo will commit his future to the team despite his disappointing short-term to medium-term outlook.

And while they are limited in the changes they can make to the roster, perhaps the Bucks can start convincing Antetokounmpo that they mean business by cleaning house – starting with the departure of head coach Doc Rivers.

Bucks need to start fresh, move on from Doc Rivers

Despite having a 30–13 record, the Bucks made the surprise decision to fire Adrian Griffin and replace him with Doc Rivers as the team’s head coach in 2024. They finished the season under .500 under Rivers (they went 19–20) and lost in the first round of the playoffs against the eventual conference finalists Indiana Pacers.

Now, this isn’t going to turn into Griffin’s defense. By all accounts, the Bucks locker room questioned his strategy because Griffin had not maximized the team’s personnel. But reports revealed that when Griffin called his players out he took it in stride, although the fact that he did meant that his respect for them was fractured from the start.

Still, Griffin coached a terrible defense, and it was clear Antetokounmpo was growing tired of his schemes. They replaced Griffin with Rivers, who at least has the respect of people in the locker room.

This may be Rivers’ only save at this stage of his coaching career. Everyone knows the story with Rivers: He won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, maintains a sense of professionalism in the locker room that commands respect from everyone on the team, and he’s a consistent win producer, at least in the regular season.

Rivers has had his fair share of black eyes in the playoffs. He is the only head coach in NBA history to lead multiple 3–1 playoff series. His star-studded teams perform poorly under the bright lights of the postseason. But that’s all moot when the Bucks team he’s currently coaching couldn’t even make the start of the postseason.

Some Bucks fans may be wondering why Rivers hasn’t been fired yet. The results have not been there, and there has been nothing but disappointment in the Cream City since the team brought him in. It’s clear his voice still has influence in the locker room, and Antetokounmpo is at least there to stay with him unlike Griffin.

The Bucks’ shortcomings this season aren’t really Rivers’ fault. The team he is currently coaching is not very good anyway. But he’s not really adding wins to the team. Some of his rotation decisions recently were surprising; Why did Kyle Kuzma not play at all in their recent loss to the Boston Celtics? Why was Ryan Rollins, of all people, benched upon Antetokounmpo’s return?

It’s time for a fresh start for the Bucks under the tutelage of a well-known coach who knows how to handle a locker room with big egos. And for once, the Bucks will have to enlist the services of a new voice, an up-and-coming assistant who has paid his dues during his time in the NBA.

Why Mika Nori deserves a chance in Milwaukee?

Nouri has been an assistant coach in the NBA for 17 seasons, and he is currently part of the Minnesota Timberwolves coaching staff under head coach Chris Finch. He is the main assistant of the team, as he replaces Finch if he is out or misses time due to personal reasons or injury.

Most accounts state that Nori is adept at managing game situations, meaning his main strength is adjusting to what he sees on the court. Now, the head coaching job requires much more than mastering such skills. Still, his tactical plans could be what brings Antetokounmpo on board for at least the next few years.

If there’s one thing Antetokounmpo wants from a coach, it’s defensive consistency and communication. Nori provides both; Players have appreciated the Timberwolves assistant’s ability to build relationships with them, and he has been instrumental in crafting a Minnesota defense that routinely ranks top-10 in the NBA.

Given that the Bucks lack scoring weapons around Antetokounmpo, getting it done on defense should be priority number one for them. They are currently ranked 24th in that department, so that won’t make the cut. They have solid individual pieces on defense, Kevin Porter Jr. and Rollins are very disruptive, and Myles Turner has a long history of adequate rim protection, but it hasn’t come together under Rivers.

Now, the Bucks may need an experienced head coach to reassign Antetokounmpo. But Milwaukee needs to avoid retreading head coaches at all costs. And there may be no better candidate for the potential Bucks head coaching vacancy than Nouri.