Scott Proefrock on a college media day. Photo: Philliedelphia/Matt Rappa
Scott Proefrock has many years as an assistant general manager. Proefrock served in the role for the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays from 1997 through 2005 and held the role with the Phillies from 2008 until September 10, when Ruben Amaro Jr. was let go. Since then, Proefrock has held the "interim general manager" tag.
When new Phillies president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail was hired, he was brought in to fill a much different role than team presidents past. After the hiring of money man Michael Stiles to serve as chief executive officer and executive vice-president, and John Middleton taking the role of the face of ownership for the organization, the president has one role: the product on the field. Thus, MacPhail will drive any baseball decisions.
With MacPhail saying at his hire, "let's face it, I'm not here for my marketing acumen", whoever comes in as "general manager" will tend to serve more as MacPhail's assistant. That said, MacPhail may have his eyes on one outsider. If that outsider falls through, the next general manager very well may be Profrock.
That outsider is Assistant General manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Matt Klentak. Klentak was first named by MLB.com's Todd Zolecki as someone to watch. Yesterday, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News called him the "favorite":
Klentak, 35, is arguably considered the favorite for the job, if for no other reason than his previous work with the man making the hire. In 2008, six years after earning a degree in economics at Dartmouth, Klentak was hired by MacPhail to be the Baltimore Orioles' director of baseball operations.
Klentak left the Orioles shortly after MacPhail resigned from the team and has worked for the last four years as an assistant GM with the Los Angeles Angels. He is among at least a half-dozen candidates for the Angels' GM opening.
What could be the hold up? Well, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, for whom Klentak already works, is looking for a general manager. Klentak could be it.
That might explain the holdup. MacPhail indicated that he already interviewed someone, and that might be Proefrock, whom he has plenty of access. The Angels may not wish to grant the Phillies access to Klentak until they make their own decision. Bill Stoneman came out of retirement to serve as the Angels interim general manager, with much assistance from Klentak.
If the season ended today, the Angels would have a wild card berth, so there may be a delay. Billy Eppler, named by Lawrence as a candidate for the Phillies, could be one of the top few to work for the Angels. If Klentak is hired by the Angels, the Phillies may simply stick with the known entity: Scott Proefrock.
Proefrock and MacPhail worked together in Baltimore. MacPhail served as president of baseball operations and Proefrock was the director of baseball operations. When MacPhail left the Orioles, Proefrock soon after joined the Phillies. If MacPhail could add Klentak and keep Proefrock, he might be happy to do so. If Klentak is unavailable, Proefrock could be the guy.
Some Phillies fans may be tempted to link Proefrock with Amaro. But MacPhail already stated that he planned to keep most of the staff. It is not as if Proefrock is without merit, either. Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus has listed Proefrock at least twice as an "up and coming" general manager.
However, Phillies fans should get used to the new model. The general manager will not have the final say on baseball decisions. That would be Andy MacPhail. Middleton takes the ownership representation role that Montgomery had, Stiles will take the financial role that Montgomery had, and MacPhail will be all about the product on the field.
