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Phillies President Confirms Post-'21 Departure, Could Leave Sooner

Andy MacPhail said the Phillies have not interviewed candidates for their GM positionGETTY IMAGES

Phillies President Andy MacPhail said that he "plans to leave the Phillies" after the '21 season at the expiration of his three-year contract extension, but he could depart sooner, adding that he is "willing to step down if it allows the team to 'land a big fish' in their search for a new leader for their baseball operations department," according to Matt Breen of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. If he does leave sooner, the Phillies "could then use MacPhail’s 'president' title as a way to lure another team’s president of baseball operations and make the move be seen as a promotion." Still, MacPhail said that a significant transaction "will not be made this offseason without being approved" by him and Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton. Breen noted the Phillies have "started the process of finding a replacement" for recently demoted GM Matt Klentak and have "identified candidates, but they have not conducted interviews." The "most likely scenario would be the Phillies hiring a president of baseball operations while another president oversees the business operations" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/31). 

DOOM AND GLOOM: MacPhail during his annual postseason state-of-the-team address on Friday said, “I’ll tell you this is about as miserable a time in baseball as I have ever (seen) by far. And it’s not about me. It’s just a miserable process.” In Philadelphia, Bob Brookover noted MacPhail spoke "specifically about the process of laying off employees both on the baseball operations and business side." He said, “Finances are different and that allows me to bring up something that I wanted to talk about. I’ve read some of this stuff that’s critical of the owners. You take the money when times are good, but now when we run into a big problem, the players bear the brunt of it or employees need to go." He added, "The losses we accrued in 2020 and what is reasonable to assume for 2021, it’s not pretty. It’s not pretty.” MacPhail said of the club's search for a new president and GM, "I could see this going longer. Certainly through until 2021, when you have a little more clarity what we are facing. I just try to underscore this: You want the next regime to do well. You want to put them in a position to succeed. In my estimation, if you brought somebody in here right now with a limited capacity that they could affect positive change it’s just borderline not fair to them" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/1). 

PHILLIES SHOULD MAKE MOVE NOW: In Philadelphia, Scott Lauber writes MacPhail now "really is the lamest of ducks." If Middleton "wants to remove MacPhail from the club presidency," he must "go right ahead." Lauber: "Heck, MacPhail is almost begging for it" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/31).

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