Phillies Hire Joe Girardi As New Manager

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Almost 10 years to the day after he led the Yankees to a 2009 World Series victory over Philadelphia, the Phillies have hired Joe Girardi as their new manager, the club confirmed Thursday afternoon.

Girardi, one of the most acclaimed names on the manager market, led the Yankees through a highly successful 10-year stretch. He's managed to an elite clip of 988–794, or a .554 winning percentage, over that time frame.

He's received a three-year contract with the Phillies, taking him through the 2022 season, with a club option for 2023. His salary has not yet been announced.

Girardi, 55, was a major league catcher for 14 years, long renown for his cerebral approach to the game. He caught the perfect game thrown by David Cone in 1999, and was also behind the dish for Dwight Gooden's no hitter in 1996.

He won the National League Manager of the Year award in 2006 with the Florida Marlins, his first gig. He then managed the Yankees from 2008 through 2017, taking them on six playoff trips in 10 years, including four berths in the ALCS and, of course, the World Series championship in 2009. He's served as an analyst for MLB Network ever since.

Surviving the scrutiny of the New York media market is not for everyone, but it was a limelight in which Girardi thrived. He successfully managed multiple superstars with divergent personalities, including Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, and Mark Texeira, that all-time great infield that defeated the Phillies all-time great infield in 2009. He was the man at the helm when the Yankees modern core of young prospects emerged into the big leagues, overseeing the transition of players like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, Domingo German, and Dellin Betances into stardom.

So it's clear he's equipped to handle those intangibles: the pressure of leading a team in Philadelphia, of managing superstars like Bryce Harper, of turning inexperienced youth into (hopefully) established stars. Regardless of who should ultimately take the blame, it's clear the Phillies ownership decided to scapegoat Kapler for, in part, the failure of young players like Rhys Hoskins, Maikel Franco, Nick Pivetta, and Vince Velasquez to develop.

His hiring indicates a few obvious things. The Phillies still see themselves as an immediate contender, and they want Girardi to be the man to take them to the World Series. They clearly have chosen to value experience in this round, after firing 44-year-old Gabe Kapler just two years into the job. And finally, it reflects at least some faith in the Phillies and their prospects for the near future from Girardi, who was likely not looking to be a part of a rebuilding project.

While he may not be as publicly associated with analytics as Kapler, Girardi nonetheless helped guide the Yankees following the launch of their own analytics program. He was replaced in New York by a younger man thought to be more analytically inclined in Aaron Boone — the same way that Kapler replaced the older Pete Mackanin after the 2017 season.

Rumors have painted the well-regarded Girardi as the top choice of Phillies owner John Middleton for the last week. And although general manager Matt Klentak did not want to fire Kapler, he agreed with the decision to hire Girardi, numerous sources have indicated.

>>Phillies Fire Manager Gabe Kapler

In addition to former Orioles manager Buck Showalter, Girardi also beat out veteran manager Dusty Baker for the job. The Phillies narrowed their search to only those three men, and interviewed each twice before Thursday's decision.

Girardi was also in the running for vacant managerial positions with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.

Thursday was long expected to be the day the Phillies made this announcement because there is an off day in the World Series schedule.

In addition to his time as Yankees manager, Girardi also helmed the Florida Marlins in 2006, and was most recently serving as the manager of Team USA, a position he resigned earlier this month.

Girardi will be introduced by the club during a press conference at 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28. He's the 55th manager in Phillies history.