The Phillies on Friday morning refuted a report by WTXF-Fox' Howard Eskin about a "looming ownership restructuring within the club -- which could result in David Montgomery being replaced as team president," according to John George of the PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL. The team in a statement said Montgomery's leave of absence from the team "is entirely due to his medical condition." Montgomery in late August announced he was battling cancer in his jaw bone. The statement continued, "There is absolutely no other reason for his leave from active involvement in the Phillies management." The club also denied the report that limited partner John Middleton was maneuvering to take over the team's majority ownership. It said in the statement, "Over the life of the Phillies partnership no one entity or family has owned a majority of the partnership, and we do not foresee this changing in the future" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/3). In the original report, Eskin noted Middleton has been "buying more of a percentage of the team from the other partners over the last few years," giving him with 48% of the team. Eskin also cited a source as saying that Montgomery "was pushed out" of his position. The team's limited partnership is set up so that "no partner can own a majority without unanimous approval of the other partners." Eskin: "With Montgomery now out, it has now become easier for the vote that Middleton needs to become the majority owner." Montgomery in recent years has "made the final decisions on every part of the organization." Middleton has been the "most aggressive of the limited partners and will continue to be when he finally gains majority control." With Pat Gillick serving as acting President, there "will be a lot that will change" with the on-field product. Several "high-profile players may not be back next year," including 1B Ryan Howard and P Cole Hamels (WTXF-Fox, 10/2).
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: In New Jersey, Matt Lombardo noted Middleton is worth more than $2.9B, and he and his wife, Leigh, "were recipients of the 2014 Philadelphia Award for their various philanthropic efforts." While many of the Phillies' limited partners have "maintained a very private, low-key profile it seems that Middleton is not afraid of stepping into the limelight in the name of charity." Some observers have "speculated that Middleton has the personality that would demand change in the way the organization operates and spends in an effort to fielding a competitive product year in and year out without the loyalty that the team has shown to aging veterans in recent years" (
NJ.com, 10/2).
