The Phillies continued their overhaul of the coaching staff today by adding two coaches and signing two for another year. After the season ended, the Phillies announced that bullpen coach Rod Nichols and assistant hitting coach/recent third base coach John Mizerock would not return. Additionally, one coaching position was vacant after Pete Mackanin left third base and became the interim manager. Today the Phillies filled two vacancies.
The Phillies announced the two hires on their twitter feed:
The #Phillies have hired Rick Kranitz as bullpen coach and John McLaren as catching coach.
— Phillies (@Phillies) October 21, 2015
Additionally, Ryan Lawrence of the Daily News reported that two coaches renewed their contracts:
Additionally, hitting coach Steve Henderson and pitching coach Bob McClure have agreed to contracts for the 2016 season.
— Ryan Lawrence (@ryanlawrence21) October 21, 2015
The additions give the Phillies a really strong coaching staff.
McLaren served as manager of the Seattle Mariners in 2007 and 2008 after serving as the team's bench coach in the early part of 2007. After a slow start in 2008, McLaren was replaced by bench coach Jim Riggleman. The two would meet again in the Washington Nationals organization.
His only major league position since then has been with the Washington Nationals in 2011. McLaren served as bench coach. That led to three games as interim manager when manager Jim Riggleman quit in the middle of the season in the middle of a contract dispute. After the Nationals appointed Davey Johnson manager, McLaren became a scout for the Nationals.
McLaren also coached with the Toronto Blue Jays and in the World Baseball Classic.
McLaren fills part of Mizerock's role: the management of the catchers. But, with Bob Stumpo and Jesus Tiamo serving in the bullpen, McLaren may be an extra voice on the bench for the Phillies, especially with uncertainty surrounding bench coach Larry Bowa. Bowa has stated he would be really happy to return to the Phillies, but has had two interviews to be the Marlins manager. Lawrence notes that the Phillies stated that both Bowa and Samuel were offered spots to return, but have not accepted yet.
Rick Kranitz was recently dismissed as the pitching coach for the Milwaukee Brewers. Kranitz has served as a pitching coach with the Florida Marlins (2006 and 2007), the Balitmore Orioles (2008-2010) and then the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2015). After the disappointing Brewers season, the Brewers let Kranitz go, along with most of the Brewers coaching staff.
The hiring of Kranitz means that the Phillies hope to continue their "second pitching coach" approach in the bullpen.
The one spot left for the Phillies to fill (provided Samuel and Bowa return) would be the third base coach. Bowa was a renown third base coach during his coaching career, but it is unclear if the Phillies were looking to consider moving Bowa back to third or if they were content with him serving as bench coach.
