Phillies award Pete Mackanin with contract extension

Phillies manager Pete Mackanin has a 121-161 record with a rebuilding team

Hours after Joaquin Benoit voiced his displeasure on how the bullpen was being run by the coaching staff, manager Pete Mackanin received a new contract.

Entering his third season as the Phillies manager Mackanin has kept the team afloat despite the influx of youth and organizational transition.

General manager Matt Klentak announced Mackanin’s new deal will run through the 2018 season with a club option for 2019.

Taking over for Ryne Sandberg during the 2015 season Mackanin led the team to a 31-51 record to finish the year. His first full year saw the team move from last to fourth in the division, and the current season sees them in third.

Mackanin originally joined the Phillies coaching staff in 2009 as the bench coach after Jimy Williams left after winning the World Series. Following the 2012 season, Mackanin’s contract was not renewed by the organization. Incoming manager Ryne Sandberg brought Mackanin back into the organization as his third base coach in 2014, where he remained until Sandberg’s resignation.

Some have questioned Mackanin’s game management and the bullpen, and the fact the organization didn’t initially pick up the option year on his original deal worried some fans.

The utilization of reliever Pat Neshek this season and Rule 5 pick Tyer Goeddel last year have been his biggest complaints.

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Now Mackanin has the opportunity to see the rebuild through with Klentak and team president Andy MacPhail. With young talent developing in the minor leagues, how Mackanin handles the clubhouse.