Phillies seek ‘splash,’ Joe Girardi-esque president hire

There is finally some clarity in the Phillies front office search

Nearly two months have passed since the reassigning of Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak. President Andy MacPhail has made it well-known that he will not be back after 2021 the season, and possibly sooner if his successor is identified.

But, all has been quiet on the Phillies front, until now; the organization is expected to begin interviewing president of baseball operations candidates to replace MacPhail “as soon as next week,” according to The Athletic’s Jayson Stark.

The Phillies reportedly have “a lot of balls in the air,” Stark continues, and are focused on hiring a new team president, while “leaving their GM opening on the back burner.”

Just as the organization added a star-caliber manager Joe Girardi last offseason, they reportedly seek to “make a splash” and hire the “front-office equivalent” of him — one who brings “instant credibility”; in other words, those who have led a team to a World Series.

“They have been trying to gauge the interest of a small group of experienced, highly regarded baseball people with proven, winning track records,” Stark writes. “Sources say they have asked for an answer from their remaining uncommitted candidates within the next week, if possible.”

Senior advisors Pat Gillick and Charlie Manuel, as well as special assignment scout Terry Ryan — former general manager of the Minnesota Twins — are reportedly helping the organization to identify candidates, both for the president and general manager vacancies.

According to Stark, there are scenarios this offseason in which the Phils hire a general manager and not a president in the coming weeks; also, the Phillies could choose to hire neither and stick with MacPhail and interim general manager Ned Rice next season.

Stark’s report comes just hours after the Miami Marlins made professional sports history, hiring the first female general manager, Kim Ng.

Time will tell just how fast the Phillies front office search will take.