The day has finally come.
On Thursday, the Phillies announced that they have elected not to extend the contract of Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. Andy MacPhail, who the Phillies hired to be their next president in June, broke the news to Amaro Thursday morning and discussed the move later in the day at a press conference with Phillies owner John Middleton (video below). |
Amaro, who played five seasons for the Phillies in the 1990s took over the GM position from Pat Gillick in 2009. The team initially had success, reaching the World Series in 2009 and winning the National League East in 2010 and 2011.
After a franchise record 102 victories in 2011, however, the Phillies began a rapid decline thanks in large part to an aging roster with big contracts.
Amaro had begun the organization's rebuild over the past year, restocking a depleted farm system by flipping some of those aging players, but with the team on pace for 100 losses in 2015, it proved to be too little too late.
And so the Amaro era in Philadelphia has ended. Rejoice Phillies fans, you got what you wanted. Ruben is gone. But remember, just because Amaro will no longer be calling the shots does not mean his replacement will be able to return the franchise to the heights it reached from 2007-2011.