The Phillies made another big move in the front office today. The Phillies already elevated Hall of Fame general manager Pat Gillick to the role of president, pushing aside long-time president David Montgomery to the chairman role he held before taking over the reigns of the team. But the Phillies' long-term plans got somewhat clearer today when the team installed a new executive vice-president.
According to Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the restructuring continued with a new job for Michael Stiles:
The Phillies promoted Michael Stiles to executive vice president and chief operating officer, the team announced Tuesday.
Stiles, according to the Phillies, “spearhead all business operations and supervise the general administration of the club.”
The move will directly affect the Phillies' plans going forward with the president position.
Montgomery served as the chief executive officer and chief financial officer for the Phillies. Now, there are two clear roles: president of baseball operations, and executive vice president and chief operating officer. With a COO, the president's position is freed up to focus simply on baseball operations. That greatly impacts who the next president will be.
Gillick said he would be surprised if he would be there another year, right before he accepted the permanent role of team president. Chances are that if Gillick does not give up the job before next season, he would not be on the job all that much longer. After all, Gillick is 77 years young and probably will retire eventually, probably sooner than later.
So, the Phillies would have the opportunity to take their pick of some of the brightest general managers in baseball who are not being promoted. This person would oversee baseball operations and any general manager in this new arrangement probably would be doing the grunt work while the president makes all baseball decisions. That appears to be happening now. Those calling for Ruben Amaro Jr.'s head can relax; unless Amaro is promoted to president he will not be making the final decisions.
So, next offseason the Phillies may be able to go after the John Mozeliaks , Jon Danielses, and Walt Jockettys of the baseball world and give them the title of president of baseball operations. Maybe even Brian Sabean can be had. The Phillies can spend their money on one of the best general managers there is in baseball and give them full control. After all, that is what we have seen happen with Andrew Friedman, John Hart, and Theo Epstein.
With the financial side of things covered, the Phillies president now and in the future can now focus on the baseball product on the field. Stiles filled the non-baseball half of the president's former job description this offseason, and will continue to going forward.
