Phillies reportedly offer scouting director job to Yankees’ Brian Barber

According to RADIO.COM’s Jon Heyman, the Philadelphia Phillies have offered the vacant scouting director position to New York Yankees’ national crosschecker Brian Barber. The team’s interest in Barber was first reported by NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury Saturday morning.

Earlier this week, Salisbury reported that the Phillies had been interviewing several candidates, both from inside and outside the organization, but it appears they have decided on Barber as their top choice.

The Phillies have not necessarily drafted and developed players well over the last decade, and they are now paying the price with little organizational depth as they try to win now. Barber was instrumental in the Yankees’ decision to draft All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge, according to Sweeny Murti of WFAN, and hiring from an organization that has drafted well recently could be a sound strategy for the Phillies.

The position became vacant when previous Phillies scouting director Johnny Almarez stepped down on September 3. Almarez had been the director since October 2014 and oversaw five amateur drafts with the team prior to his decision to step down and take on a smaller role within the organization.

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