Screen capture courtesy of Oriole Post on Youtube
Earlier this morning, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com was able to confirm rumors that Andy MacPhail would be joining the Phillies within the next week. MacPhail was first reported to be a target of the Phillies by Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly, and then yesterday Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the deal could be done soon. So, should MacPhail join the Phillies as President, who would be his general manager?
In Zolecki's piece today, he offered one name: Matt Klentak of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:
MacPhail likely will replace Gillick as president and use the foreseeable future to evaluate the baseball-operations staff. It remains to be seen if MacPhail will bring anybody with him, either immediately or down the road. One source mentioned Angels assistant general manager Matt Klentak, 34, as a possibility to join the organization in the future. MacPhail hired Klentak as Orioles director of baseball operations in 2008, making him one of the youngest executives in baseball.
Phillies fans are eager for a change at general manager, but there could be a reason that Amaro finishes out his contract.
For one, under current operational structures, the president of baseball operations is the one calling the shots. When Pat Gillick succeeded David Montgomery as president, the financial management of the organization was transferred to Michael Stiles, with the title of executive vice president and chief operating officer. Thus, the president position will handle the product on the field.
Since Gillick took over, Amaro has not called the shots. Evidence of that was when Amaro was reportedly overruled on the signing of Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas. (Tomas is batting .328 for the Arizona Diamondbacks, by the way.) Amaro has basically become what he used to be: Gillick's assistant general manager. MacPhail would call the shots, but need someone who can do a lot of the legwork as general manager. MacPhail, like any other president, would probably want his own guy.
Klentak is serving as assistant general manager for the Angels. The Phillies could add him as general manager after the season. The Angels would probably be fine with letting the Phillies talk to Klentak if he would get a promotion, but teams tend to prefer that it not occur during the season. So, Amaro would likely do the gruntwork until then.
