Phillies front office still not getting love in anonymous poll of 40 MLB executives
Dave Dombrowski changed the feel of the club when he took office. After the recent deep playoff runs, when will his work finally garner the respect it deserves?
The Dave Dombrowski era caused a massive shift in approach for the Philadelphia Phillies. Out went general manager Matt Klentak and Andy MacPhail. In came general manager Sam Fuld and multi-World Series appearance and World Series-winning president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
The new face of the Phillies front office took over during the 2020-21 offseason when the team was floundering. Dombrowski came in after yet another collapse at season's end. Even with the shortened COVID-19 60-game sprint, the Phillies still didn't have enough juice to sneak into the playoffs.
Dombrowski started to deal immediately with acquiring José Alvarado via three team trade from the Tampa Bay Rays, involving the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phillies would also resign J.T. Realmuto for 5yr, $115.5M. The 2022 and 2023 seasons started showing the results of this revamped squad.
Phillies front office still not getting love in anonymous poll of 40 MLB executives
The Phillies made the World Series in 2022 in a magical playoff run after an 11-year drought. They fell one game short in the 2023 NLCS. The sudden turnaround has forced the Phillies into top discussions in all of baseball.
Yet, still, the recognition of the front office's resurgence and dynamic ability to combine homegrown talent with big free agent signings has left executives to look the other way. Due to the success, Dombrowski signed a three-year extension to take him through 2027.
In a recent poll of 40 of MLB executives (subscription required) by The Athletic, the Phillies rank 11th among the best front offices in baseball. Their 10 points are well behind the first-overall Los Angeles Dodgers' 284.
The hard times before the recent success in the last two-plus years seemingly hold the Phillies back in the rankings. For a decade-plus, the team couldn't replenish stars and failed to bring in the big names of baseball via trade or free agency. The success so far isn't enough yet to impress.
The Phillies front office has turned around the farm system, hitting on recent draft picks and reaping the rewards of recent homegrown talent in Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Ranger Suárez and Aaron Nola. The steal of an ace for Zack Wheeler in free agency has gained the organization significant credibility.
The Phillies lead the charge in MLB with a dazzling record of 34-14. They're out of the gates with something to prove and the club has a feel like none other in baseball. The Phillies are a juggernaut in the NL.
Again, a World Series title is in view. Who's to say the success doesn't end anytime soon, and that same club down in South Philly will set the new gold standard for consistent organizational success with multiple titles?
manual