October 24, 2019
UPDATE [4:02 p.m.] — The Phillies have made it official. The club has hired Joe Girardi as the 55th manager in franchise history. He has signed a three-year deal with a team option for 2023.
#Phillies have hired Joe Girardi as the 55th manager in franchise history. Girardi received a three-year contract with a club option for 2023.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 24, 2019
Welcome to Philadelphia, Joe! pic.twitter.com/dLgfVWeu4b
“On behalf of everyone at the Phillies, I want to congratulate Joe and welcome him to our baseball family,” GM Matt Klentak said in a statement released by the team. “Joe brings high character and a tremendous work ethic to his position, and he is a proven winner. I look forward to working with him and I believe that he is the right manager to lead our team to the next level.”
Girardi was named 2006 National Manager of the Year by the BBWAA in his first season with the Marlins. According to the Phillies, he's the first manager hired by the club who previously won that award. He then went on to manage the Yankees to a 910-710 record from 2008-17, the best mark in baseball over that span, and won the World Series in 2009 when New York knocked off the Phillies to become world champs.
“I’m excited for this next chapter of my career,” said Girardi. “The Phillies have a strong commitment to winning from the owners to the front office to the players to the fans. It’s something that I’ve seen up close for the last 30 years of my baseball career. I played against the great Phillies players of the early ’90s – from Dutch Daulton to John Kruk to Dave Hollins – and I managed against their teams during the incredible run they had from 2008 to 2011. To have my name now associated with this great franchise is something that I couldn’t be happier about.”
Girardi will wear No. 25 for the Phillies.
The hire ends a month of speculation for Phillies fans, first over whether or not Gabe Kapler would be let go following a second season that left much to be desired. Once that decision was made, it appeared the Phillies had their search narrowed down to three experienced candidates in Girardi, Buck Showalter and Dusty Baker. Ultimately, however, it was Girardi, who reportedly was the top choice of owner John Middleton.
“Matt [Klentak] did a great job running the search, culminating with the three exceptional candidates we interviewed,” said John Middleton. “Ultimately, we all agree that Joe is the right person to lead our team, and I am excited to welcome him to the Phillies.”
The Phillies will officially introduce Girardi to the media at 1 p.m. on Monday.
The Phillies will hire former Yankees manager Joe Girardi as the team's next manager, according to multiple reports.
Phillies are hiring Joe Girardi, source confirms. Announcement could come today
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) October 24, 2019
BREAKING: A source says the #Phillies have hired Joe Girardi as manager. An announcement could come today.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) October 24, 2019
The move comes two weeks after the team decided to part ways with Gabe Kapler, who had gone 161-163 in his two seasons with the club.
Girardi brings not only experience to Philadelphia, but also a world championship pedigree after his Yankees beat the Phillies in the 2009 World Series.
By all accounts, the Phillies only interviewed three candidates for their open manager spot — Girardi, Buck Showalter and Dusty Baker — and all three of them came with much more experience than they guy they'd be replacing. Early on, many thought that Showalter, because of his connections to the front office from his time in Baltimore with Matt Klentak and Andy MacPhail.
However, as the search went on, Girardi emerged as the clear favorite to take over the Phillies dugout, in large part because of John Middleton's desire to bring him in. And now, it looks like Middleton got his man.
Here's a look at Girardi's resume:
Age: 55
Awards: Manager of the Year, World Series Champion
Highest level of success: World Series win (2009)
Teams managed: Marlins (2006), 78-84 record
Yankees (2008-2017), 910-710 record
Postseason record: 28-24
Stay tuned, we'll have more as this story develops...
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