News broke on Saturday that the Phillies have decided on their next general manager with Matt Klentak in line to take on the role. First to report the decision was the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo on Twitter.
Many considered Klentak as a front runner for the gig as he has previous ties to current team president Andy MacPhail while both were with Baltimore. Klentak held the title of director of baseball operations with the Orioles and most recently was the assistant GM with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Klentak played baseball in college for Dartmouth University where he was a shortstop and the team’s captain as a senior. Out of college, Klentak worked for the Colorado Rockies in their baseball operations department and later spent four years working for MLB’s labor relations department.
Varied reports have Klentak as either 34 or 35 years old. Either way, he’s a young man in an evolving pro baseball world, which can certainly play in the Phillies’ favor.
Also first reported by Cafardo is the destination for the Phillies’ previous GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who will be manning the first base coach’s box for the Boston Red Sox. Amaro was let go by the Phils late last season after spending nearly seven years in the role.
