Phillies: Andy MacPhail eyes Jim Hendry for front office

Jim Hendry could be the next executive to join the Phillies front office

Philadelphia Phillies president Andy MacPhail is likely in the final offseason as a Major League Baseball front office executive, as the veteran will not remain in his role beyond the 2021 season. With the Phillies general manager role currently vacant, however, there are several paths the organization could take to revamp its high-level leadership positions.

According to SportsRadio 94 WIP’s Howard Eskin, MacPhail already has his sights set on who possibly could be part of this next chapter in Phillies history — current New York Yankees scout and former Chicago Cubs general manager, Jim Hendry.

MacPhail reportedly has recommended Hendry to Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton for “the front office opening,” Eskin reports. It is not clear whether this “opening” is in reference to MacPhail’s president position, Matt Klentak’s now-vacant general manager position, or a mix of both.

Hendry has spent the past nine seasons as a special assignment scout for the Yankees. Prior, from 1994 to 2011, the Dunedin, Florida, native worked in the Cubs organization, starting out as Director of Player Development and spending the last decade, 2002-11, as general manager. Hendry is the first and only general manager in Cubs history to lead them to three postseason appearances (2003, 2007-08).

If Hendry were to join the Phils, it would not be his first stint in the National League East, as he worked in the Florida Marlins organization for three seasons in the early 90s in roles as a scout, minor league manager, and Special Assistant to General Manager Dave Dombrowski. Coincidentally, Dombrowski was a rumored candidate to fill the Phillies front office vacancy, however, he has since committed to staying in Nashville in pursuit of a new team in the city.

In January 2019, Hendry earned the 2019 Legends in Scouting Award from the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation.

MacPhail recently said he would step down before his contract expires if the Phillies find the right fit; he hired Hendry to the Cubs organization in 2002. One year later, the Cubs made the postseason and reached the NLCS. The postseason-starved Phils would surely like to see a repeat of that success, if Hendry were to come on board.

The Phillies have notably plucked Joe Girardi, Brian Barber, and Rob Thomson from the Yankees organization in recent years; Hendry could be the next to join the list.