The Phillies were the last of the eight teams with managerial vacancies to create the vacancy. The Angels recently announced the hire of Joe Maddon as their new skipper, the only manager named out of eight franchises. The Phillies, linked to Joe Girardi, Dusty Baker, and Buck Showalter, apparently will name of those three their new manager sooner than later.
Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the search is in the "final stages".
The Phillies’ search to replace manager Gabe Kapler has reached its final stages, as the team will hold follow-up interviews over the next few days with Dusty Baker, Joe Girardi, and Buck Showalter after meeting with all three managers this week.
Those three — all with established track records — are believed to be the only three candidates for the job. A decision is expected to be finalized next week.
Breen says that Girardi and Showalter are the favorites.
Generally speaking, Major League Baseball does not like baseball news breaking during the playoffs. that could mean that the Phillies wait until the ALCS between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros is complete. That would mean an announcement likely comes before the World Series begins on Tuesday.
In related news, Girardi stepped down from his post as Team USA manager yesterday, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe. Girardi was to manage the Premier 12 Olympic qualifier. Scott Brosus will manage instead. That's a good sign Girardi expects to be managing a major league baseball team next season; the New York Post reports Girardi is confident he will get a job.
In 2008, Girardi turned down a job offer to be manager of the Baltimore Orioles after Sam Perlozzo was fired mid-season. That offer came from Phillies president Andy MacPhail. That job soon went to Showalter instead.
Both Girardi and Showalter have interviewed for other jobs in baseball. Showalter interviewed for the opening in Los Angeles, while Girardi interviewed for the New York Mets job and Chicago Cubs opening.
