Matt Klentak leaving Phillies for role with Brewers

Former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak is leaving the organization to become a special assistant with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Ken Rosenthal and Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

Klentak, now 41, served as the strategy and development officer for the Phillies in 2021, following five seasons as the general manager. He was reassigned within the organization after the Phillies failed to snap a lengthy postseason drought in 2020, in large part because of a historically-bad bullpen. Prior to joining the Phillies, Klentak spent four seasons as the assistant general manager for the Los Angeles Angels.

The Phillies failed to consistently develop talent internally under Klentak, which was a large part of his downfall. However, the Dartmouth graduate acquired a slew of stars during his time as Phillies’ general manager, including Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen.

While a special assistant role hardly puts you at the forefront of baseball operations, Klentak had been phased out of personnel decisions under new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, who essentially amounted to his successor. The role in Milwaukee — where he’ll work under president of baseball operations David Stearns, who is one of the most respected executives in the sport — could be a stepping stone to Klentak eventually returning to a high-ranking position in someone’s front office.

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