The Philadelphia Phillies paid $300 million to land big time free agent Bryce Harper right at the beginning of Spring Training last February, yet they still could not find their way in to the Postseason. That has resulted in a major change at the top, as the Phillies have fired manager Gabe Kapler. This comes after he spent two season as their manager, and went an even 81-81 in his first and lone season managing Harper. The team did say that it would take time when landing Harper in free agency from the Washington Nationals, which is why they locked him in for 10 years, but a .500 season was not the start they wanted in that process.
Kaper was hired in 2017 by the Phillies, his first major league managerial job, and mentioned the goal of bringing back a World Series title to Philadelphia. They never came close in his two seasons there, with both years seeing fast starts that turned in to slow second halves.
The Phillies released a statement thanking Kapler for his time, and did the same on social media, as he is the third manager fired by the Phillies within two seasons. Ryne Samberg and Pete Mackanin suffered the same fate with the organization. The likes of pitching coach Chris Young and head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan will also not return, but senior adviser Charlie Manuel is not going anywhere.
With this firing, that now makes eight different teams looking for a new manager this off-season. The top two names at the top of the Phillies' rumors are Buck Showalter and Joe Girardi, both of whom the Phillies have reportedly had internal conversations about. Former Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon could also be a candidate, but he is the top target of the Los Angeles Angels as well. Kapler, the 54th manager in franchise history, thanked the team and said nothing but nice things about the organization on his way out the door.
Kaper was hired in 2017 by the Phillies, his first major league managerial job, and mentioned the goal of bringing back a World Series title to Philadelphia. They never came close in his two seasons there, with both years seeing fast starts that turned in to slow second halves.
The Phillies released a statement thanking Kapler for his time, and did the same on social media, as he is the third manager fired by the Phillies within two seasons. Ryne Samberg and Pete Mackanin suffered the same fate with the organization. The likes of pitching coach Chris Young and head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan will also not return, but senior adviser Charlie Manuel is not going anywhere.
With this firing, that now makes eight different teams looking for a new manager this off-season. The top two names at the top of the Phillies' rumors are Buck Showalter and Joe Girardi, both of whom the Phillies have reportedly had internal conversations about. Former Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon could also be a candidate, but he is the top target of the Los Angeles Angels as well. Kapler, the 54th manager in franchise history, thanked the team and said nothing but nice things about the organization on his way out the door.
