The Philadelphia Phillies apparently agreed to a deal with Joe Girardi on Thursday to become their new manager, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Girardi has worked as an analyst since parting ways with the New York Yankees following the 2017 season, but he brings an extraordinary 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 dismissed 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 issues 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 intended 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 substituted 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 capitalize 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.
