Philadelphia Phillies

After making one of the biggest splashes of last offseason with the signing of Bryce Harper, the Philadelphia Phillies again have their eyes on one of the top prizes of the free-agent market.

According to Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer, general manager Matt Klentak has an "offseason plan that centers around pitching," and Houston Astros star Gerrit Cole "is at the top of the Phillies' list."

Philadelphia is reportedly expected to add at least two starters with only Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta locks for the 2020 rotation.

Cole will obviously be at the top of most teams' lists this winter after back-to-back dominant seasons with the Astros. He is a top candidate for the American League Cy Young Award this year after going 20-5 while leading the league with a 2.50 ERA and 326 strikeouts. This came after producing a 2.88 ERA and 276 strikeouts in 2018 during his first year in Houston.

His production will obviously lead to a high demand, however, and likely one of the biggest contracts in baseball history.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted Cole will make $288 million over eight years, which would break David Price's record for the largest contract ever given to a pitcher at $217 million.

This could make the Phillies a top contender after already showing the willingness to hand out large contracts. Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the team last offseason, while Arrieta is set to earn $75 million over three years, plus a pair of team options.

If cost isn't a problem, Philadelphia can get a major upgrade in an area of need after finishing 11th in the majors with a 4.53 team ERA. Nola was arguably the only reliable option in the rotation, while Zack Eflin and Vince Velasquez showed promise but were wildly inconsistent.

Cole would help solidify the staff while potentially lifting the squad to the postseason after an 81-81 regular season.

The Philadelphia Phillies officially announced Joe Girardi as the team's next manager in a press conference Monday.  

Joe Girardi puts on the Phillies uniform for the first time.

Now it's official! pic.twitter.com/TynajV3xZT

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 28, 2019

Girardi endeared himself to fans with his early comments.

"I'm well aware of the passion in this city." he said in his first statements, per Steve Keeley of Fox29. "I know the importance of winning here."

"I'm selfish. I want to win," the 55-year-old added, per Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times. "I think there's a great opportunity to win here."

General manager Matt Klentak continued theme, noting Girardi's resume gives the team a great chance to succeed going forward.

"No questions asked. It is time to win right now," Klentak said, per Jon Johnson of SportsRadio WIP.

Meanwhile, Girardi noted he is willing to support analytics to get the job done after questions about his style while he was with the Yankees.

"I do embrace it; I really enjoy it," he said Monday, per 97.5 The Fanatic. "I'm an analytical guy who has an engineering degree who really loves the math. Those things all intrigue me."

The Northwestern graduate also noted a relatively laid-back approach to his job with limited rules for the players:

Be on time, prepared, accountable, respectful. Don't play multiple songs at once. Pretty good set of rules from Joe Girardi #Phillies

— PHILLIES TBOH (@FS_TBOH) October 28, 2019

“As long as your focus is winning, what other rules do you need?”

-Joe Girardi on his rules

— Marc Farzetta (@MarcFarzetta) October 28, 2019

His remarks were enough to impress as he enters his new role:

Girardi wins over everyone in exactly 33 seconds of opening his mouth

— John Barchard | Watching the Birds 🦅 (@JohnBarchard) October 28, 2019

10 minutes in, it’s pretty clear Joe Girardi is winning the press conference. It means almost nothing when the season starts, but I’d find it hard to believe Phillies fans don’t like what they hear right now.

— Sweeny Murti (@SweenyMurti) October 28, 2019

I love this Joe Girardi already. Speaks like a real person, not a rehearsed automaton.

— Glen Macnow (@RealGlenMacnow) October 28, 2019

Philadelphia was in the market for a new manager when Gabe Kapler was fired Oct. 10 following a disappointing 81-81 record in 2019. 

Girardi spent 10 years as manager of the New York Yankees until 2017 and led the franchise to six playoff appearances, including a World Series title in 2009. 

Five days after the Yankees lost in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to the Houston Astros, the team announced Girardi would not be returning as manager in 2018. 

In a statement about his departure from the Yankees (via Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic), Girardi said it was the team's decision not to bring him back: 

"With a heavy heart, I come to you because the Yankees have decided not to bring me back. I'd like to thank the Steinbrenner family for believing in me and giving me this wonderful opportunity. I would like to thank Brian Cashman and his staff for hiring me and always trying to improve the team. I would like to thank my coaches and support staff for their dedication to always trying to make the players better and get the most out of them."

In 10 seasons as a manager with the Yankees and and one with the Florida Marlins, the former catcher compiled a 988-794 record and was named National League Manager of the Year in 2006 with the Marlins. 

During his time with the Yankees, Girardi proved he was capable of succeeding with an expensive-laden veteran team, like the 2009 championship squad, or a group of talented young players such as Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino in 2017. 

Going from New York to Philadelphia doesn't bring with any less pressure for Girardi. He will be helped out by inheriting a talented roster that has the ability to compete with anyone in the National League. 

The Phillies owners proved last year they will spend to improve the roster with their signings of Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen and David Robertson as free agents and acquiring J.T. Realmuto in a trade with the Miami Marlins. 

The starting rotation needs help behind Aaron Nola, but the pieces are in place for Girardi to be successful for the Phillies in 2020 and beyond.  

In the National League East right now are two happy campers and a third camper whose current mood might pair well with "The Sounds of Silence."

The happy ones are Joe Girardi and the Philadelphia Phillies. The latter hired the former as its new manager on Thursday:

#Phillies have hired Joe Girardi as the 55th manager in franchise history. Girardi received a three-year contract with a club option for 2023.

Welcome to Philadelphia, Joe! pic.twitter.com/dLgfVWeu4b

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 24, 2019

Girardi is the successor to Gabe Kapler, who was fired on Oct. 10 after racking up a disappointing 161-163 record in two seasons as the Phillies manager.

The Phillies' hiring of Girardi is also significant because of the position he's not taking over: namely, the manager's chair of the New York Mets.

The Mets have been connected to numerous managerial candidates since they dismissed Mickey Callaway on Oct. 3, but Girardi seemed to be their preferred choice. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the 55-year-old was the first of three skipper possibilities to get a second interview.

Then again, why would Girardi throw in with the Mets when a more attractive opportunity was just a few hours down the road?

If nothing else, Girardi won't have a hard act to follow in Philadelphia.

Though Kapler had never managed in Major League Baseball, he was a player for 12 years and had cut his teeth working with young players in the Boston Red Sox (Single-A manager) and Los Angeles Dodgers (director of player development) organizations. He also made a name for himself as a sabermetrics-friendly thinker while working as an analyst for Fox Sports.

Kapler thus seemed to be an inspired choice when the Phillies hired him in October 2017. In theory, his experience with young players and his fondness for new-age ideas would give him a steady hand with which to guide the Phillies out of their rebuild and back into contention.

In actuality, Kapler was in over his head right away, and he ultimately oversaw ugly collapses in each of his seasons in Philadelphia. The Phillies held at least a share of first place in the NL East as late as Aug. 12 in 2018 and June 11 in 2019, yet they missed the playoffs both years.

In retrospect, it's a wonder Kapler even made it to a second season in Philadelphia.

The Phillies' haul of Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura and David Robertson during the 2018-19 offseason moved the team away from the youth-based approach that originally inspired Kapler's hiring. To boot, reports of his botched handling of multiple sexual misconduct allegations during his Dodgers years have raised serious questions about his leadership. Reports of discord in the Phillies clubhouse in 2018 only add to those concerns.

What the Phillies needed after all this was a dash of credibility, which certainly explains why they coveted Girardi.

Girardi was a respected figure amid a 15-year playing career in which he won three World Series with the New York Yankees. He earned a Manager of the Year award with the Florida Marlins in 2006 and then a championship in just his second year as the Yankees manager after taking over for Joe Torre in 2008.

All told, Girardi went 910-710 and netted six postseason berths as the Yankees skipper between 2008 and 2017. Even at the end of the road in '17, he led his team all the way to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

According to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman, Girardi was only let go because of "communication and connectivity" issues. In translation, he went from being the right guy for the club's typically veteran-laden rosters to the wrong guy for the increasingly youthful rosters with which he was working toward the end.

Today's Phillies more so resemble what Girardi was used to for the bulk of his Yankees tenure. Their roster isn't old, per se, but it does consist largely of hired guns with big salaries. Certainly more so than Kapler, who reportedly had a hands-off approach in the clubhouse, Girardi has practice working with a team of this particular composition. 

The Phillies will likely bring in even more high-priced veterans this winter. They still have some luxury-tax breathing room despite last winter's $403 million bonanza, so they should be on the prowl in free agency for the arms and bats they require.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Phillies were also drawn to Girardi's track record as someone who "considered and implemented analytics during his tenure [with the Yankees]." Though it's perhaps fair to call him old school, he's not so old school that he's out of touch.

Meanwhile in Queens, the Mets' failure to end up with Girardi isn't going over so well. Just ask John Harper of SNY.tv or Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post.

Column: By passing in Girardi the #Mets have fulfilled two of their fans’ greatest fears: 1) the GM wants a puppet and 2) the owners want a cheap puppet. They are more in the crosshairs of public opinion now than ever before, and rightly so. https://t.co/IY4ZI2Reaj

— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) October 24, 2019

To be sure, the Mets shouldn't have hired Girardi just because there was pressure on them to do so.

However, they needed their own credibility boost after two .500-ish (163-161, to be exact) and playoff-less seasons under Callaway, who had never before managed in the majors. Likewise, they also have a veteran-heavy roster that would have suited Girardi well.

It's possible Girardi spurned the Mets simply because they wouldn't match the Phillies' three-year offer, which contains a club option for 2023. Speculatively, it's also possible Girardi was wary about how much support he would get in New York.

Whereas the Phillies have proved their willingness to spend big bucks in pursuit of wins, it wasn't even two years ago that Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon attempted to defend his family's light-spending habits. With the team's payroll already set to rise in 2020, there may not be many new toys under the tree this winter.

Like any manager, Girardi presumably also wants total autonomy in the dugout. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Callaway didn't have that in 2019 because first-year general manager Brodie Van Wagenen couldn't help but meddle with in-game decisions.

Whatever the case, the Mets' managerial search must march on. Yet the big difference is that they'll now likely be taking a chance on whomever they hire.

Per Sherman, Minnesota Twins bench coach Derek Shelton, Washington Nationals first base coach Tim Bogar and ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez have made the cut for second interviews. Bogar is the only one with major league managing experience, and his consists of 22 games as the Texas Rangers' interim skipper in 2014.

As evidenced by Alex Cora, Aaron Boone and Dave Roberts, a collective lack of experience doesn't mean those three can't be good managers. But given that the Mets' dice roll on Callaway didn't work out, they had the right idea in going after a guy with Girardi's been-there-done-that creds.

Not finishing the pursuit could be something they live to regret.

                   

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jake Arrieta reportedly exercised a player option in his three-year, $75 million contract to remain with the club for the 2020 season for a $20 million salary.

Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported the update Thursday.

Arrieta was limited to 24 starts in 2019 before landing on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury that required season-ending surgery in August. He's expected back at full strength in time for next year's spring training, per Heyman.

The 33-year-old Missouri native didn't pitch to his usually high standards even when healthy. He posted a 4.64 ERA, his highest mark since 2013, and a 1.47 WHIP with 110 strikeouts in 135.2 innings.

"It hurts every day," Arrieta told reporters on Aug. 11 about the bone spur in his elbow after giving up five runs in three innings against the San Francisco Giants in his final start of the year.

The injury and his lackluster numbers likely made the choice to remain with the Phillies quite straightforward. It will give him an opportunity to bounce back in 2020 without having to rush his recovery in order to land a new contract elsewhere.

Philadelphia holds the decision about his future in its hands moving forward. The team holds club options for both 2021 and 2022 at $20 million apiece.

Arrieta is worth that high price tag at his peak. He was one of the league's most dominant players in 2015 when he finished with a microscopic 1.77 ERA in 33 starts for the Chicago Cubs. While the right-hander hasn't been able to match that performance, his ERA was below 4.00 each of the last three years.

If healthy, he'll probably open the 2020 campaign in the middle of a Phillies rotation led by Aaron Nola.

The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a three-year deal with Joe Girardi on Thursday to become their new manager, the Phillies announced. 

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia first reported the news. 

Girardi has worked as an analyst since parting ways with the New York Yankees following the 2017 season, but he brings an impressive resume to the table. He has a 988-794 career record as a manager, a National League Manager of the Year award with the then-Florida Marlins in 2006 and a World Series title with the Yanks in 2009.

"I think Joe is a great choice," Gabe Kapler, who the Phillies fired in October, told Alex Carr of The Good Phight in reaction to the hire. "He's smart, adaptable and his record obviously speaks for itself. [...] I believe Joe will guide this team to a lot of success and wish him and the Phillies the best."

The Phillies fired Kapler following an 81-81 season, his second in Philadelphia. The Phillies finished 16 games back of the National League East champion Atlanta Braves and was eight games off the final wild-card spot.

An improvement of one win fell well short of expectations after the team added Bryce Harper, David Roberstson, J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen, Juan Nicasio and Jean Segura in the offseason.

Harper summed up Philadelphia's general problems on offense. He had a .260/.372/.510 slash line along with a .365 weighted on-base average. Those numbers aren't bad, but they likely aren't what the Phillies envisioned when they gave the six-time All-Star a record-setting 13-year, $330 million contract.

Segura also posted his lowest WAR (2.3) since 2015, and the team never adequately replaced McCutchen after he tore his ACL in June.

Even if the Phillies' best hitters had delivered, it likely wouldn't have mattered given their dreadful pitching staff. Aaron Nola's FIP rose a full run from 3.01 to 4.03. Jake Arrieta allowed his second-most home runs per nine innings (1.39). And Robertson, who had averaged 65 appearances since 2010, underwent Tommy John surgery in August after having pitched in seven games.

Philadelphia ranked 23rd in FIP (4.88), 20th in strikeout rate (8.62) and 17th in walk rate (3.38).

As much as the Phillies spent on their starting lineup, the 2019 season made it clear that they need to invest more this winter in their starting rotation. Even if one argues Kapler didn't get the most out of the roster at his disposal, no manager could've excelled with this staff.

With what's projected to be MLB's eighth-biggest payroll ($127.7 million), per Spotrac, the Phillies should have the flexibility to land a marquee starter. Perhaps that was part of the team's pitch to land Girardi.

As the Phillies began to conduct their search for a new manager, many wondered if the result would be a sort of referendum on general manager Matt Klentak.

Clear Phillies owner John Middleton made this call. Strong belief is GM Klentak preferred to keep Kapler, his handpicked guy. Klentak was extended in spring so he’s safe (plus Harper and Realmuto thrived) but you have to wonder if he gets this managerial hire too.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 10, 2019

After the Phillies fired hitting coach John Mallee in August, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber questioned whether Kapler's ouster was a sign of ownership starting to lose faith in Klentak and the front office:

"But in firing Kapler, the Phillies revealed a management team that appears to be at odds, possibly even in a state of dysfunction. For the second time in three months, managing partner John Middleton came off the top rope to direct a personnel decision. And while that's his prerogative after dropping nearly half-billion bucks on roster additions only to remain a postseason outsider for the eighth year in a row, it does raise questions about Klentak's autonomy going forward."

The postseason is clearly the bar for success in 2020, which will immediately put Girardi under the microscope. However, Klentak might be the one on the chopping block next should the Phillies miss the playoffs for a ninth straight year.

Girardi is no stranger to pressure. He spent 10 years in the Yankees' dugout, winning a World Series in 2009 and taking the team to the American League Championship Series in 2010, 2012 and 2017.

In terms of experience, Girardi is a significant contrast to Kapler. His arrival could signal a general shift in the team's strategic direction as well. 

Girardi's more traditional style was one of the reasons the Yankees moved on after the 2017 season and hired the more analytically inclined Aaron Boone. Whereas Kapler was an extension of the front office, Girardi is likely to voice some disagreement with Klentak.

Striking more of a balance between the manager and general manager could be what the Phillies need to get back into the playoff picture.

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

The Philadelphia Phillies have set their sights set on Joe Girardi for the managerial vacancy.

According to Andy Martino of SNY, the Phillies are in "hot pursuit" of the former New York Yankees manager, and "Girardi's camp expects resolution soon."

The Phillies, New York Mets and Chicago Cubs were considered the three options for Girardi, though with the Cubs expected to formally announce David Ross as their manager Thursday, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Phillies and Mets appear to be the two remaining suitors.

"I think there will be some clarity with it pretty soon," Girardi said Tuesday during an interview with WFAN's Mike Francesa (h/t SNY) regarding his future job status. 

He added of his prospective jobs: 

"I think they're all good jobs, really good jobs. They all have great markets, they all have passionate fans that want to win, they all have ownership groups that want to win, so yeah I think they're all good jobs. To me, the big thing is the relationship and the comfortability factor of everyone working together."

Despite those comments, the Phillies are considered the favorite to land his services:

Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi is in Philadelphia today for a second meeting with Phillies management. He is the clear favorite for that job as the Phillies are all in to try to win in 2020.

— David Kaplan (@thekapman) October 21, 2019

Girardi, 55, spent one year with the Florida Marlins as their head honcho in 2006, going 78-84. He then took over in 2008 as manager of the Yankees, where he would remain until 2017, going 910-710 in that span with six trips to the playoffs and a World Series title in 2009 over the very team that is now pursuing him.

The Phillies, meanwhile, are coming off a disappointing 2019 season that saw them underachieve, in large part because of an underperforming pitching staff. That cost Gabe Kapler his job, though the Phillies remain an appealing destination given the talent that remains on the roster—from $330 million man Bryce Harper to J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins, Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen and Aaron Nola. 

The hope for Phillies fans this offseason is to nab a more established manager like Girardi and significantly bolster the pitching staff in free agency. It appears the team is getting closer to accomplishing the first item on that wishlist.  

Former New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi completed his second interview with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday and is reportedly the favorite to land the job:

This is Joe Girardi leaving Citizens Bank Park tonight with a 👋🏼 after his second interview with Phillies

He is “believed to be the Phillies preferred candidate for manager,” according to @JSalisburyNBCS #Phillies pic.twitter.com/80EvpHzAer

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 21, 2019

Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported early Monday that Girardi was one of the top candidates and noted Dusty Baker and Buck Showalter received second interviews last week. The team is seeking someone with previous experience managing in the majors; each of these candidates have had multiple stints in that role.

The Phillies' last manager, Gabe Kapler, was hired after limited coaching experience and no time leading a big league club. He was fired after two seasons, having produced a 161-163 record.

Girardi is a proven commodity with 910 regular-season wins in 10 years with the Yankees as well as a World Series title in 2009. He also spent one season with the Miami Marlins, going 78-84.

He also had a 15-year playing career, so the 55-year-old has the resume Philadelphia is looking for.

On the other hand, the team isn't alone in targeting Girardi.

He has also interviewed with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, getting a second interview with the latter, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

John Harper of SNY reported Oct. 11 the Mets would hire Girardi if he didn't end up with the Cubs.

With seven managerial positions still vacant, there could be a race to hire one of the biggest names available.

Former New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi and ex-Baltimore Orioles skipper Buck Showalter are viewed as the favorites for the Philadelphia Phillies' vacancy, according to Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Dusty Baker, most recently of the Washington Nationals, is believed to be the only other candidate for the job.

Girardi, 55, has previously managed two different big league clubs, the then-Florida Marlins (2006) and New York Yankees (2008-17).

He has recorded a winning season in 10 of his 11 seasons, with the lone exception coming with Florida. Of note, though, he was named the National League Manager of the Year after leading the Marlins to a 78-84 mark in 2006.

Girardi has a career record of 988-794 during the regular season and 28-24 during the postseason. He led the Yankees to six playoff appearances in 10 years on the job, and he was the manager during their most recent World Series team (2009). 

Showalter has served as the manager for four different franchises during his career, leading the Yankees (1992-95), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-2000), Texas Rangers (2003-06) and Orioles (2010-18).

Over the course of his 20-year career, he has compiled a record of 1,551-1,517. The 63-year-old has taken a team to the postseason five times, compiling a 9-14 record in the playoffs. He is a three-time American League Manager of the Year, earning the recognition in New York (1994), Texas (2004) and Baltimore (2014).

Sources tell @JSalisburyNBCS Buck Showalter is intrigued by the Phillies job and has done homework on the roster

He will interview with Phillies Monday, according to @JSalisburyNBCS https://t.co/91wBqeC48D

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 14, 2019

Buck Showalter is likely to be a candidate in Philly. He had a good rapport with Phillies prez Andy MacPhail when both were in Baltimore. @MattGelb 1st mentioned the link to Buck

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 11, 2019

Buck Showalter, who impressed #Angels officials during his interview, now strongly in play for #Phillies and #Mets openings.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 16, 2019

Showalter was most recently in the dugout for Baltimore, where he spent eight-plus seasons. He put together a 622-569 record through his first seven-plus years with the O's before the franchise's rebuild dropped his overall record with the team below .500 (669-684). He was fired following a 47-115 performance in 2018.

Baker, 70, has 22 years of managerial experience. The three-time NL Manager of the Year has taken the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Nationals to the postseason. 

He has a connection to the Phillies, as he managed star Bryce Harper in Washington in 2016 and 2017.

Baker has not managed since being let go by the Nationals following the 2017 campaign.

A decision is reportedly expected to be made by next week.

As the Philadelphia Phillies conduct their search for a new manager, three-time National League Manager of the Year Dusty Baker will reportedly be interviewed by the team. 

Per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, Baker will meet with the Phillies later this week. Baker joins Joe Girardi and Buck Showalter, who will also meet with the team, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Baker has spent the last two seasons working with the San Francisco Giants as a special adviser to team president Larry Baer. His duties also included scouting the Giants' minor league affiliates. 

Gonzales noted the Giants granted Philadelphia permission to interview Baker. 

The Phillies are in the market for a manager after Gabe Kapler's two-season run came to an end when he was fired Oct. 10. 

Per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, the Phillies are looking at candidates with previous managerial experience.

Zolecki also noted Showalter is "presumed front-runner" because of his connections to general manager Matt Klentak and assistant general manager Ned Rice from their time with the Baltimore Orioles, as well as a team president Andy MacPhail. 

Baker has 22 years of managerial experience between the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. The 70-year-old has a 1,863-1,636 career record with nine playoff appearances and one trip to the World Series in 2002 with the Giants. 

The Philadelphia Phillies fired skipper Gabe Kapler on Thursday after a disappointing second season with the club.  

pic.twitter.com/t7FZu89BQv

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 10, 2019

Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia first reported the news. 

After announcing Kapler's exit, Phillies managing partner John Middleton issued a statement on the decision, via Todd Zolecki of MLB.com:

Statement from #Phillies managing partner John Middleton. pic.twitter.com/KVR2FERlun

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) October 10, 2019

The Phillies ended the season in fourth place in the National League East at 81-81, finishing 16 games out of first.

Kapler was hired in October 2017 despite no previous managerial experience at the big league level. He proceeded to go 161-163 in his two seasons on the job.

The first-time manager immediately faced scrutiny for his strategical decisions during games. While a tumultuous start to his tenure had some calling for his job, he managed to survive the 2018 campaign as the team remained in contention late into the summer.

However, an 8-20 September knocked the Phillies out of the playoff race.

An 80-82 record in Kapler's first year represented Philadelphia's best performance since an 81-win season in 2012. Expectations for his second season skyrocketed, though, following a busy winter.

During the offseason, Philadelphia added 2015 National League MVP Bryce Harper, 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen, 2018 All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, two-time All-Star shortstop Jean Segura and 2011 All-Star pitcher David Robertson. Not only that, but the team also acquired three-time All-Star right fielder Jay Bruce in June.

Despite all of those high-profile transactions, the Phillies found themselves underperforming. Even through a seven-game losing streak in June, though, Kapler stressed teamwork: 

A bit of a tense moment during Phillies Postgame Live as Gabe Kapler addressed the idea of changes being made within the club after a seventh straight loss. pic.twitter.com/VXteo4eLV1

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) June 23, 2019

Philadelphia's postseason hopes remained alive until late in the season, but it was eliminated from contention on Sept. 24. At that point, Kapler made his case to return for a third season, per Salisbury:

"We have games left to play. Like I said, there’s going to be plenty of opportunity to reflect. I love this organization. I love this team specifically. I love working for this front office. I love working for this ownership group. And look, I’m going to manage this club as long as I can. Because I think I give us a great chance to win and I think because I care deeply about the success of this franchise."

Ultimately, though, the higher-ups decided it was time for a change.