Matt Klentak Named Phillies General Manager and Vice President

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ search for a new vice president and general manager is over, as the team announced the hiring of Matt Klentak on Monday morning.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe first reported Klentak’s hiring on Saturday, which ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick confirmed at the time.

The Phillies were in the market for a general manager after announcing Sept. 10 they would not be renewing the contract of Ruben Amaro Jr., who had been in charge since November 2008.

Andy MacPhail, who is entering his first offseason with the Phillies as president of baseball operations, said when the search for a new general manager started that the organization wanted to cast a big net to ensure it brought in the best person for the job, per Jack McCaffery of the Delaware County Daily Times:

I would think it would be a mistake if we pigeon-hole ourselves into saying, “We’re going to go for young analytics,” or “We’re going to go for an experienced baseball guy.” I see that out there with other clubs. Why would you restrict your ability to talk to whoever you want? I think you have a responsibility, like I said two months ago, to look at everything.

Klentak previously worked with MacPhail in Baltimore. He spent the past four seasons as an assistant general manager with the Los Angeles Angels under Jerry Dipoto and interviewed for their GM vacancy after Dipoto resigned in July. 

A new era of Phillies baseball has arrived, and there are many reasons to be optimistic despite a 63-99 record in 2015. They were able to integrate young, promising talent like Aaron Nola and Maikel Franco into the big leagues this season. 

There should be more high-upside talent on the way, such as shortstop J.P. Crawford, and MacPhail and Klentak can shape the roster in its image with the winter meetings approaching in December. 

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Phillies GM Search: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation Surrounding Vacant Position

In the wave of personnel changes in Major League Baseball since the season ended, the Philadelphia Phillies have been quiet in their pursuit of a new general manager, until now.

Continue for updates. 

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Phillies Setting Up Interviews

Friday, Oct. 9

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Phillies have scheduled interviews with MLB senior vice president of baseball operations Kim Ng and Cleveland Indians vice president of player personnel Ross Atkins for their vacant GM position. 

Heyman’s report mentions that former Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest has already interviewed with the team and other candidates could be in play as Phillies president Pat Gillick tries to get the right person for the job. 

Former general manager Ruben Amaro lost his job when the Phillies decided not to renew his contract after the season. 

Ng is the most unique candidate because she has interviewed for GM jobs in the past, including having two interviews with the San Diego Padres last year before the team hired A.J. Preller. She is seeking to become the first female general manager in this country’s major sports. 

Heyman also noted that MLB “isn’t thrilled” with the lack of minority candidates interviewing for any openings, with commissioner Rob Manfred quoted in the piece as saying, “diversity…is a high priority for MLB.”

Manfred did add that he was “comfortable” with decisions made by clubs in the past, hiring the person they viewed as the best and most qualified for the job. 

The Phillies are in a unique situation because they have torn everything down and are trying to build it back up. There are still problematic contracts on the roster, notably Ryan Howard, but last year was the first time it appeared there was a conscious effort to replenish the farm system and get younger. 

Philadelphia’s MLB results didn’t look good, posting the league’s worst record (63-99), but the new general manager will walk into a job with some young talent (Aaron Nola, Maikel Franco) in the big leagues and a lot more—notably, shortstop J.P. Crawford—coming through the system. 

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Phillies Clinch No. 1 Pick in 2016 MLB Draft: Latest Details and Reaction

The Philadelphia Phillies are officially the worst team in baseball following Saturday’s pair of losses to the Miami Marlins. With another defeat in Sunday’s season finale, Philadelphia would post its first 100-loss season since 1969. Heck, it lost to a Division II team in spring training.

With the undesirable distinction, the Phillies are assured the top pick in June’s first-year player draft for the first time since 1998.

CSN Philadelphia’s John Clark sprinkled some satire to showcase the news:

As Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer pointed out, the Phillies will likely look for a standout ace to bolster a mediocre rotation:

Phillies starters have the third-fewest quality starts (65) and innings per start (5.3) in the majors, and as Kaplan pointed out, there are plenty of pitchers the team may be eyeing, such as high school prospects Riley Pint and Jason Groome, Florida’s A.J. Puk and Oklahoma’s Alec Hansen.

The Phillies, who won five straight National League East titles from 2007 to 2011, are in the midst of a massive rebuilding process yet hold MLB’s 10th-highest payroll. The abysmal 2015 season has seen the firing of general manager Ruben Amaro and resignation of manager Ryne Sandberg. 

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