While the Gabe Kapler saga has yet to come to an end, the Phillies front office appears to be making some contingency plans at the manager position. With a decision expected any day now from Phillies owner John Middleton, the Phillies are moving forward with back up plans. That could include a face very familiar to both general manager Matt Klentak and president Andy MacPhail.
According to Matt Gelb of the Athletic, there is "mutual interest" between the Phillies and Buck Showalter:
A more experienced manager might install a different kind of structure to the ground floor of Citizens Bank Park. This all makes Buck Showalter an intriguing figure. While a search for a potential replacement for Kapler would not be limited to Showalter, the two sides have a mutual interest, according to multiple sources.
Of course, there is no guarantee yet that there will be an opening at the manager position.
Showalter managed the Baltimore Orioles from 2010 through 2018. When hired by the Baltimore Orioles, Klentak was director of baseball operations for the club, while MacPhail served as club president. MacPhail departed the Orioles after the 2011 at the conclusion of his contract; at the same time Klentak took an assistant general manager job with the Los Angeles Angels.
Of course, it sounds like the first priority of the front office would be to keep Kapler. Should Kapler stay, who they might otherwise hire is a moot point. Stay tuned.
