Today, soon to be Phillies president Andy Macphail, and majority owner John Middleton released a statement announcing that, senior vice-president and general manger Ruben Amaro Jr. will not have his contract extended past the 2015 season. The team also announced that Scott Proefrock is taking over as the interim general manager for the rest of the 2015 season.
Amaro has been the general manger since November of 2008, and was an assistant general manager for 10 years with the team. Once Amaro took over, the Phillies had immediate success, they went to the World Series in his first year, went to the NLCS his second, and set a team record for wins in his 3rd, winning 103 games. But the team never won a Championship under him, and have failed to make the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, during which time the team has a combined record of 274-356, including a disaster 2015 season, which the Phillies are currently 54-86. Amaro has faced criticism for being unable to rebuild the team, and relied too much on the core of the 2008 season. He moved pieces such as Jimmy Rollins, and Chase Utley once they were on the decline, and got very little back for them.
Amaro has been scrutinized by fans and media for some of his trades, most notably the Cliff Lee trade to Seattle, and the Hunter Pence trade to the Giants, in which both cases Amaro got very little in return, no players who could help the team win immediately, and not even top prospects for the future. His handling of contracts and free agent signings were puzzling at times. He signed Jonathon Papelbon, to a four-year, $50 million contract, along with a partial 17 team no trade clause, and $13 million vesting fifth year option. The Phillies were coming off the 103 win season, so the signing of Papelbon makes sense, but the vesting option and no trade clause made it difficult to trade him away in their losing seasons, in which the Phillies desperately needed to rebuild.
Majority owner John Middleton said in his statement ” The Phillies ownership fully supports Andy’s decision not to extend Rubens contract”. Andy Macphail announced the team will immdiately begin looking for a replacement general manager.
