Howard Eskin of Fox 29 reported in recent months that Phillies partial owner John Middleton is itching for an opportunity to become majority owner and take managing control of the team. Since selling his cigar business for $2.9 billion, Middleton has been around the team more often. Recently departed Jimmy Rollins said that Middleton is "The man with the vision IF they give him the reins".
In a soon-to-air interview with CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury, Rollins said (via the 700 Level):
"That's his ambition, to be Steinbrenner South," Rollins said.
"You can feel it when you meet the guy, he wants to put a winner out there. But he wants to be in control, don't get it wrong. But he wants to put a winner out there very badly. I know he would like to have more influence, obviously have majority ownership then he can do the things he feels is best. I think he has to be muted just because the way the ownership is done there. They listen to him. He's probably one of the youngest of that group but if he had it his way he'd be majority owner and be doing a lot of different things with the team I think."
The full interview is scheduled to air over the course of the next week.
Middleton is rumored to have said, "I'll pay for him myself!" as the Phillies ownership discussed signing former Phillies slugger Jim Thome. The Thome move is arguably what helped turn the franchise around into a winner. Earlier today in an interview with Eskin on 94 WIP, Amaro said that the Middleton family and the Buck families each own 48% of the team, which means that unless the Bucks budge and sell shares to Middleton, nothing is going to happen.
