The Philadelphia Phillies will have a new baseball architect moving forward.
General manager Matt Klentak has stepped down from his post, the team announced Saturday. The Phillies said Klentak will be reassigned to another position in the organization. “I have stated publicly that winning is what matters, not just in Philadelphia but in all cities and in all sports,” Phillies managing partner John Middleton said in a release. “While Matt made many significant contributions to the organization, we did not accomplish our goal of playing baseball in October. Consequently, we have mutually agreed to allow new leadership to head Baseball Operations.”
Klentak took over in the Phillies’ front office in October 2015 after working as assistant GM for the Los Angeles Angels for four seasons. In five seasons with Philadelphia, Klentak never organized a team that finished above .500, or higher than third in the National League East Division.
The Phillies had a chance to make the expanded playoff field this season, and entered the final week of the regular season in seventh place in the overall NL standings. But Philadelphia lost seven of its last eight games and finished 10th in the NL with a 28-32 mark.
The Phillies last reached MLB’s postseason in 2011.
“While I am disappointed that we failed to reach our ultimate goal, I am nevertheless very proud of the progress that this organization made over the last five years and of the people who worked so hard to make it happen,” Klentak said in a statement. The Phillies, with Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto in the middle of the lineup, had enough offense and finished fourth in the NL with 306 runs scored this season.
But the bullpen cratered any postseason hopes. The Phillies had a 7.06 ERA from the bullpen, and reliever blew more saves (14) than they converted (11).
Ned Rice will serve as the interim GM until a permanent successor is hired.
–Field Level Media ()