UPDATE: The contract between manager Joe Girardi and the Philadelphia Phillies is a three-year contract. Girardi will have a fourth-year option for the 2023 season as a part of the agreement; the financials have not been reported. Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reported the news on twitter.
The #Phillies make it official: Joe Girardi gets 3-year contract and option.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 24, 2019
The Philadelphia Phillies have taken perhaps one of the more appealing names off the managerial free agent board. The Phillies have brought in Joe Girardi to manage their team after relieving Gabe Kapler of his duties recently. Girardi has not managed since 2017, handing the reins of the New York Yankees over to Aaron Boone. MLB dot com writer Todd Zolecki reported the breaking news of Girardi’s agreement with the Phillies.
BREAKING: A source says the #Phillies have hired Joe Girardi as manager. An announcement could come today.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) October 24, 2019
Over the course of ten years as manager of the Yankees, he earned a World Series victory as well as a pennant title. He managed the Yankees to a combined 910-710 record, winning himself the American League Manager of the Year award back in 2006. Girardi will be taking over the Phillies, who finished 79-83 this past season, which was fourth place in the National League East division. He is coming off two years in the studio as an analyst who appeared on telecasts over the past two seasons. Girardi got that itch to manage again and is headed back to the pinstripes, just this time its red pinstripes.
Player wise, it is Bryce Harper, whom Girardi will now have as the superstar of the team. For those who forgot, the Phillies have Harper locked up for twelve more seasons on a thirteen-year contract worth $330 million. In the wake of the Girardi news, Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta notified the organization that he would not be opting out of the three remaining years on his contract. With Joe Maddon, who signed with the Angels, and Joe Girardi being off the board, the managerial vacancies could start offering some surprises as the Chicago Cubs did. Maddon’s former team brought in a former player, David Ross, to take over as manager of the squads.
