While it is true that the Phillies took a little bit of time to make a decision on their manager, it appears that it will not have hurt him from getting a crack at other opportunities. Former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler is now a baseball free agent. It has not even been a week and Kapler already has two interviews lined up.
According to Sahdev Sharma of the Athletic,
Cubs will interview Gabe Kapler and Joe Espada this week for manager's job
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) October 14, 2019
Kapler has also been connected to the San Francisco Giants.
The Chicago Cubs and manager Joe Maddon announced that both sides would be looking for other opportunities at the end of the 2019 season. Maddon is considered a heavy favorite for the open Los Angeles Angels managerial position. The Cubs, meanwhile, have interviewed coaches Mark Loretta, Will Venable, and former Chicago Cubs player Joe Girardi for the vacancy.
Kapler had no major league experience when he was hired by the Phillies. Now with two years under his belt, Kapler can take what he learned and apply it in future positions. One first-time manager the Phillies employed was Terry Francona, currently manager of the Cleveland Indians. Francona is likely headed for the Hall of Fame.
The connection to Francona comes via Theo Epstein, one-time general manager of the Boston Red Sox. Epstein hired Francona as Red Sox manager after his Phillies tenure and Francona won a World Series. A member of that World Series team was Kapler.
Will Kapler find success elsewhere like his former manager Francona? Time will tell.
