John Kruk In Talks To Take Phillies TV Analyst Role For '17 Following ESPN Departure

Former MLBer John Kruk "could be Matt Stairs' replacement in the Phillies' broadcast booth" next season on CSN Philly, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. The team yesterday announced that Stairs, who spent three seasons as a Phillies analyst on the RSN, "will be their hitting coach next season." He split the analyst duties the "past two seasons" with former MLBer Ben Davis. Sources said that Kruk and CSN are "discussing a deal." Kruk "spent the past 12 years as an analyst with ESPN, but they mutually parted ways in October." If Kruk and CSN Philly strike a deal, it is "expected to be for a limited schedule" (MLB.com, 11/2). In Philadelphia, Tommy Rowan notes Kruk, who played for the Phillies for five seasons, is a "member of the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame." Prior to his career with ESPN, Kruk "spent time as an analyst" with CSN Philly and WPEN-AM (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/3).