Phillies: 3 GM candidates that could replace Matt Klentak

After a rollercoaster of a 2020 Phillies season, GM Matt Klentak recently stepped down; here are three candidates that could replace him.

The Philadelphia Phillies fell short of making it into the postseason this 2020 season, and as such, it was not surprising to hear the recent news of Matt Klentak stepping down as Phillies general manager.

Having been hired in 2015, Klentak came into an organization that had already been in a drought but has unfortunately since continued that drought — still unable to make it into the postseason nor even have a season above .500.

Although Klentak has been with the organization amidst the signing of the likes of Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Didi Gregorius, Jean Segura, Zach Wheeler, and Andrew McCutchen, the expectations that come with this kind of lineup have fallen short.

Klentak will remain within the organization, being assigned a different role, and assistant GM Ned Rice is now the interim GM until a replacement for Klentak is found.

It is worth noting that Phillies Director of Scouting Brian Barber and manager Joe Girardi both spent ample time in the New York Yankees organization. Not to mention, bench coach Rob Thomson. Could this mean that Phillies fans could see another person brought in that has ties to the Yankees organization?

Let’s take a look at some general manager candidates that could soon be brought in to replace Klentak.

First, let’s look at a very intriguing candidate that has spent years as an assistant GM and is currently the Senior VP of Baseball Operations in the Commissioner’s Office.

1. Kim Ng

Kim Ng was born in Indiana but moved to New York, attending elementary school in Queens, junior high school on Long Island and then on over to New Jersey, where she attended high school.

She learned about sports from her father and even played stickball in Queens. Ng played softball in college while attending the University of Chicago and was even named MVP infielder.

Ng’s career began with the Chicago White Sox, interning for them after graduating college. She was then hired on in a full-time role in 1991, which led to eventually being promoted in 1995 to Assistant Director of Baseball Operations.

Becoming the first woman and youngest person to present a salary arbitration case, she won it in 1995 for pitcher Alex Fernandez.

In 1997, Kim worked in American League offices as Director of Waivers and Records.

GM Brian Cashman recruited Ng to work for the New York Yankees in 1998, making her one of the very few women and youngest person to ever become Assistant GM.

In 2001, she became Vice President and Assistant General Manager with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the hiring process for Dodgers GM, which Ned Coletti ended up taking, Ng was interviewed. She has also interviewed with numerous other major league organizations for GM.

Ng left the Dodgers in 2011 and became the Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball. Another Yankees tie, she reports to none other than Joe Torre.

If, and hopefully when, Ng becomes GM, she would be the first. As a woman, I fully admire her and all she has been able to accomplish in the baseball world. I hope that she is one day the first female GM.

Next, we have a name in the Milwaukee Brewers organization that could be a good candidate.