“This is a team with a payroll built for a World Series run. Simply making the postseason isn’t good enough. If the Phillies have another early exit, it may not be his fault, but Thomson could be the one to pay the price.” MLB Bob Nightengale said about the Phillies manager, Rob Thomson. And it seems like Nightengale’s statement might come true!

Well, the Phillies padded their division lead with another win over the Mets on Tuesday, but the story in Philly is bigger than just regular-season success. Why? Because they have one of baseball’s highest payrolls and a roster built around aging veterans. Hence, this team is chasing a championship, not just wins in September.

Meanwhile, Thomson, who stepped in for Joe Girardi back in 2022 and guided the Phillies on a surprise run to the World Series, has put together an impressive record. A .578 winning percentage (335-245) over four seasons, and he’s about to deliver back-to-back NL East titles. Still, October has been the sticking point. Enough for the Phillies to look for alternatives, and here comes a connection with the Yankees!

“If president of baseball operations David Dombrowski looks for another manager, it’s worth remembering that he hired Brad Ausmus in Detroit and, by all accounts, had a strong working relationship with him. Ausmus is the bench coach with the Yankees now,” MLB insider Buster Olney said.

If you remember, in 2023, the Phillies blew 2-0 and 3-2 series leads in the NLCS, dropping the final two games at home to the Diamondbacks. Then last postseason, the Mets knocked them out in the NLDS in just four games. And both times, the offense went quiet and the bullpen came apart. So, it’s fair to wonder whether Thomson is the right guy to keep steering this club.

And what about Ausmus? Notably, he had a solid big-league career as an All-Star and 3x Gold Glove infielder, spending time with the Padres, Astros, Tigers, and Dodgers. His connection with Dombrowski goes back to Detroit, where Dombrowski hired him as manager. He later worked as a special assistant with the Angels and a bench coach with the A’s before joining the Yankees’ staff.

Overall, Ausmus owns a 386-422 record across five seasons managing the Tigers and Angels. Not exactly stellar, but with his experience and ties to Dombrowski, it’s not hard to imagine him getting another shot. A potential replacement for Thomson if the Phillies decide to make a change!

The Yankees might also follow the Phillies’ route

So yes, the Yankees’ bench coach might be in the mix for the Phillies’ job. But it’s worth noting the Yankees could be facing a managerial shake-up of their own. Aaron Boone’s seat is reportedly heating up, and much like Rob Thomson in the Phillies, a deep playoff run might be the only thing that secures his job.

Notably, the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009. And for a franchise that measures itself solely by championships, that drought looms large. Boone has guided the team to the postseason in every year but one (2023). And he’s under contract through 2027 thanks to a two-year extension signed before this season. Still, in the Bronx, regular-season wins aren’t enough; it’s all about October.

So when you stack up both situations, Thomson and Boone find themselves in strikingly similar spots. They both lead high-payroll, win-now teams with plenty of pressure to deliver. And by season’s end, it wouldn’t be a shock to see some major moves at the top for both the Phillies and Yankees. Maybe even a few surprises along the way.