The Phillies are still in "win now" mode.
At least that's the message from those in the know, as the team has brought championship winning manager Joe Girardi back for a second interview Monday.
It makes sense — seeing a division rival in the World Series after you stole their best player and spent a quarter of a billion dollars on players probably tends to make a baseball team feel like they need to "win now."
And, with other teams taking their time, the Phillies may have an advantage toward locking up Girardi by simply being more aggressive.
Veteran leadership and experience appear to be atop the priority list for candidates to replace Gabe Kapler, who took over the Phillies as his first managerial job. Under Kapler, the Phillies were barely a .500 team and fell well short of expectations after a riveting offseason set them sky high.
Two other experienced managers — Buck Showalter and Dusty Baker — have interviewed recently as well, but owner John Middleton, according to another tweet from Heyman, prefers Girardi, the youngest of the three at 55.
In another Yankees connection, Philly looks to be snatching a top scout from the Bronx Bombers to head their mostly inept scouting department, according to NBC Sports' Jim Salisbury.
If the second interview with Girardi goes well, the first puzzle piece of the Phillies 2019 offseason could fall into place sometime pretty soon.
MORE: Odds for Phillies' next manager: Buck Showalter, Joe Girardi are heavy favorites | Phillies appear to be returning to convention as they interview three veteran managers | Kevin Cooney: Nothing about Phillies press conference showed 'organization working in harmony'
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