The Phillies are expected to make the long-awaited introduction of Andy MacPhail as the new head of their front office at a Monday afternoon news conference in what CSNPhilly.com called "a future-shaping week" for the team.
The team said only that the 2:30 p.m. ET news conference at Citizens Bank Park is about "new Phillies leadership," but, according to multiple media reports, MacPhail, 62, has been expected to join the Phillies for a couple of weeks now.
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By taking over from current team president Pat Gillick, MacPhail will be in place well ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. The Phillies (27-50) have the worst record in the majors and are expected to be sellers ahead of the deadline.
CSN Philly noted that MacPhail also would have the remaining three months of the season to observe the Phillies on the field and off and make calls on personnel, including general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Meantime, manager Ryne Sandberg resigned Friday, and Pete Mackanin took over on an interim basis but was asked to manage the team only through the homestand, which ends Thursday. So there could be news on that front later in the week.
MacPhail's last MLB job was as the Orioles' president of baseball operations from 2007-11. In those five seasons, he generally is credited with laying the foundation of talent that has resulted in Baltimore's three — and apparently headed toward four — consecutive winning seasons.
He was general manager for the Twins' last two world championships, in 1987 and '91, and served as president and CEO of the Cubs from September 1994 to October 2006 before joining the Orioles.
Gillick, 77, became Phillies president on a permanent basis in January, after holding the title on an interim basis, but said he didn't envision himself in the role for the long-term.
