Dusty Wathan reportedly signs multi-year extension, 3 Phillies named Silver Slugger finalist

HOUSTON — One of the very few downsides of the Phillies’ successful run to the World Series is the inevitable “brain drain” that will follow it. The good news is that it appears the Phillies will retain a longtime coach who was in consideration for a pair of managerial openings.

Robert Murray of FanSided reports that Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan, who has been in the organization since 2008, has signed a multi-year extension to remain with the club. Wathan, 49, has been the Phillies’ third-base coach since 2018 and managed in the minor league system from 2008 to 2016.

Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported that Wathan interviewed for the manager’s job with the Miami Marlins and Kansas City Royals. The Marlins recently hired former Cardinals bench coach Ship Schumaker to succeed Don Mattingly as Miami’s manager.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson recently praised Wathan and hitting coach Kevin Long, who is also reportedly under consideration for at least one big league managerial gig.

“I lean on Dusty a lot because he’s managed so many games in the Minor Leagues,” Thomson said of his third base coach. “He understands the game so well. As I said before, I think this guy should have been managing years ago in the big leagues.”

3 Phillies named Silver Slugger Finalists, but 1 is ineligible to win

Here’s something silly: Bryce Harper is a finalist for the 2022 Silver Slugger Award for National League designated hitters, but he is ineligible to win. Why? Well, it’s because he played in 99 games, short of the 100 needed to win the award.

Anyway, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto are finalists and are eligible to win the award at their respective positions.

The best part about this is that something like this would matter if the Phillies were not currently playing in the World Series. But since that’s not the case, who cares?

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