Five younger candidates for the Phillies manager job
By John Town
Dusty Wathan
It seems like the Phillies want to look outside of the organization for their next manager. On the other hand, if they do want to pick someone from within, Dusty Wathan seems like the most logical choice.
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Wathan has managed nearly every team in Philadelphia’s minor-league system, working his way up from short-season Williamsport in 2008 all the way to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Wathan managed most of the players on the major-league roster either in Reading or Lehigh Valley or even both. If the club is worried about having someone who can connect with the players, they shouldn’t have any issue with Wathan.
The team certainly likes Wathan as he has come up as an extra bench coach after each of the last two minor-league seasons ended.
He is bound to get a chance to manage at the major-league level sooner or later, and that chance may be now with Mackanin now gone.
Next: Jhailyn Ortiz: An unheralded Phillies prospect
With the manager search certain to ramp up once the season is over, keep checking back here for any and all updates about the situation.