In an unexpected announcement, the Phillies broke news Wednesday that they’ve hired former Minnesota Twins GM Terry Ryan.
The Phillies announced they’ve hired longtime Twins GM Terry Ryan to a “special assignment scout” position with the team.
Ryan spent 31 years with the Twins, including 2 different stints as the clubs GM. Also, Ryan was the “midwest scouting supervisor” for the Mets in the early 80’s, which sorta has a similar ring to it.
Here are some quotes from the press release:
“I’m very happy to be joining the Phillies and have the opportunity to provide some impact and evaluation…. This is an exciting time for the franchise as they have what many in the industry consider to be one of the top farm systems in baseball.” – Terry Ryan
“I have known Terry for more than a decade and have enormous respect for all that he accomplished during his tenure with the Twins…. Terry’s work ethic, loyalty and track record as a talent evaluator are simply unparalleled in our game…. While we have made significant investments in our analytical endeavors over the past year, it is important to remember that quality talent evaluation is essential to making quality baseball decisions…. We are thrilled to welcome Terry to the Phillies.” – GM Matt Klentak
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The announcement from the club comes just days after the Phillies were linked to Twins all-star second basemen Brian Dozier. While the ties exist, don’t buy stock into that. Ryan is here for his ties with team president Andy Macphail, who rose through the Twins front office in the late 80’s and early 90’s under the Phillies current team president.
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The Phillies have been active this offseason. From front office and coaching moves, player acquisitions, and even broadcast news. It’s been fun so far, and with the winter meetings gearing up (if there’s no lockout), expect more chatter and buzz from the Phils.