The Phillies promoted Preston Mattingly, their farm director, to general manager Friday afternoon in a front-office shakeup. Sam Fuld, the former big-league outfielder seen as the eventual successor to Dave Dombrowski whenever he stepped aside from running the Phillies, will transition to the club’s business side instead.
Fuld, 42, started pursuing his business degree at the University of Pennsylvania earlier this year. He will become the Phillies’ president of business operations in May 2026. For Fuld, who had been a big-league player and coach — and even interviewed to be a manager — it’s a significant career shift.
No one ever said it aloud, but when Fuld went from a lower-level department head to GM under Dombrowski, those across baseball saw it as a way to prepare him to take over down the line. Dombrowski is under contract through 2027.
While Fuld was GM, all major decisions ran through Dombrowski. Fuld assisted on transactions and negotiations. But many of his responsibilities focused on everything else but the 26-man roster.
Sam Fuld, right, was viewed as Dave Dombrowski’s successor. The Phillies announced he will instead become president of business operations in 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)
Mattingly, 37, is considered a rising star in the sport who has aspired to become a GM. The Phillies hired him to oversee the minor leagues before the 2022 season, then promoted him to assistant GM before the 2024 season to prevent Mattingly from being poached by other clubs.
Luke Murton, hired by Mattingly a few years ago to run the minor-league hitting program, will become director of player development. Edwar Gonzalez was promoted to the director of hitting development. Mattingly is expected to still have an active influence in the farm system.
Fuld will eventually replace Dave Buck, a longtime Phillies business executive who is retiring at the end of December. The Phillies have not said who will run the business side in the interim, until Fuld finishes his degree.
(Photo of Preston Mattingly in 2022: Miles Kennedy / The Phillies)
