The Phillies manager search could be the quickest in the league.
Despite waiting nearly two weeks to fire manager Gabe Kapler, the Phillies appear to be closing in on hiring either Buck Showalter, Jor Girardi, or Dusty Baker as the 55th manager in Phillies history.
Jim Salisbury of NBCS Philadelphia reports that no other candidates have interviewed for the job and that a hire could come quickly. Baker has already had two interviews, Showalter was interviewed late this week, and Girardi will be interviewed early this week.
Major League Baseball frowns upon teams making major announcements during the postseason, however, the Phillies could make the announcement between World Series games.
The first two games of the World Series will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 22 and Wednesday, Oct. 23.
Assuming the Phillies are only interviewing Girardi, Showalter, and Baker and all three of the interviews are wrapped up, the earliest the Phillies could make an announcement on the manager would be Thursday, Oct. 24.
If the World Series is over in four games, Oct. 27 would be the next open date that wouldn’t interfere with a game. Should the World Series go to six games there’s be an off-day on Oct. 28 between games five and six.
Should the Fall Classic take seven games and the Phillies don’t announce their decision on an off-day, Oct. 31 would be the earliest date.
Phillies owner John Middleton is reportedly polling players on their opinion of Showalter. Jake Arrieta and Tommy Hunter, a free agent this offseason, each played for Showalter in Baltimore. Showalter has never reached the World Series in two decades managing multiple teams, and teams that he has managed have won World Series shortly after his departure.
Fans have been outspoken in their support for Girardi, who would be just the second manager in baseball history to manage a team he beat in the World Series as the opposing manager.
Baker managed Bryce Harper and helped the Nationals to a 97 win season before he was fired after a short playoff exit. He’s never won a World Series despite two decades on the bench, but he’s got a wealth of experience.