The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Monday that Andy MacPhail would be replacing Pat Gillick as their new team president after the 2015 season. The team also mentioned yesterday third base coach Pete Mackanin will remain the interim manager for the rest of the year. Who will manage in 2016?
Big changes are coming in Philly, but fans only got a little taste so far. As the club undergoes a roster rebuild, it's possible the front office and coaching staff witness an overhaul as well. The contract of general manager Ruben Amaro will expire after the season and a decision will need to be made on him, but right now the rumors will begin swirling about a manager for next year.
"Mackanin, 63, will serve as the team's interim manager for the rest of this season," writes Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It's the third time he has performed such a role: He did so in 2005 for the Pittsburgh Pirates when Lloyd McClendon was fired and in 2007 for the Cincinnati Reds when Jerry Narron was let go."
With a number of high-profile managers available for hire, it's perhaps unlikely Mackanin will remain manager beyond this season. After all, last season the Texas Rangers passed on interim manager Tim Bogar (after he finished with a winning record following Ron Washington's resignation); the Houston Astros went with A.J. Hinch instead of interim manager Tom Lawless; and the Arizona Diamondbacks hired Chip Hale instead of keeping Alan Trammell beyond the interim position.
As a result, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly has already made a list of potential managerial candidates for the Phillies in 2016, which you can see by clicking the link above.
The most interesting names include Ron Gardenhire, Bud Black, Raul Ibanez and Sandy Alomar Jr.
Gardenhire was fired by the Minnesota Twins at the end of last season after four straight 90-loss seasons. He's still one of the most respected figures in the MLB and it's been said he wants to manage again. He hired an agent back in April to "monitor possible managerial openings."
Black was recently fired by the San Diego Padres after a 32-33 start to the season. The Pads underwent a roster makeover in the offseason and did not get off to the start ownership envisioned, which made Black a scapegoat (in a sense). He is also a highly respected figure and would probably interest a majority of teams considering a change in manager. However, he never reached the postseason in eight-plus seasons as manager and has a losing record (649-713), though, many would agree San Diego is not an environment conducive to winning.
Ibanez and Alomar are of the less-experienced crop, but could be in charge of a club relatively soon. The Tampa Bay Rays interviewed Ibanez to be their manager this offseason just weeks after he retired from the MLB, but they eventually went with Kevin Cash. Alomar (Indians' first-base coach) previously interviewed for the position with the Boston Red Sox (after Terry Francona left) as well as the Minnesota Twins and Arizona Diamondbacks this past offseason.
Be sure to keep these names in mind, as well as the others on Salisbury's list, because MacPhail is likely going to insert those who align with his philosophy once he takes control in Philadelphia.
