In a move that was engineered over the summer, Andy MacPhail has officially taken over the Phillies’ presidency from Pat Gillick, according to a club announcement. Gillick will continue on in an advisory capacity, per the release. He spent just over a year in the seat, which he took over temporarily when predecessor David Montgomery fell ill.
MacPhail’s hiring was announced in late June, with the team indicating that he would “oversee the entire organization, both its business and baseball operations,” upon taking the helm. He’ll do just that now, after taking the last few months to acclimate himself.
“As the Phillies begin this new chapter in the club’s history, we are confident that Andy is the right person to lead the organization,” said John Middleton, the club’s plurality owner. “Speaking on behalf of the ownership group, we are pleased with the input that Andy has provided over the past few months. His years of baseball knowledge, combined with his passion for the game, are important as he moves forward with his primary objective of developing a championship-caliber team.”
With the offseason just weeks away, the first over of baseball business for MacPhail will be to identify a new general manager. The club parted ways with the embattled Ruben Amaro Jr., turning things over temporarily to Scott Proefrock while a permanent replacement was found. That process is still ongoing, with MacPhail reportedly working to hand-pick the team’s next GM.
Amaro did a nice job bringing in youth at the trade deadline. Andy Mac will take the club the rest of the way. He’s patient, supremely confident, and has a knack for bringing in talent. 2-3 years for serious contention.