Phillies news and rumors 7/8: John Middleton joins committee to evaluate A’s relocation

If you had a moment of panic and utter confusion upon hearing that Phillies owner John Middleton was joining a “relocation committee,” that makes two of us.

Obviously, the Phillies are going nowhere. But Middleton is about to be a leading voice in evaluating the move of a different team that does, indeed, want to go somewhere: the Oakland (aspiringly, Las Vegas) Athletics.

Middleton, along with Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman, is joining an MLB relocation committee to evaluate the potential A’s move to Las Vegas, according to the Associated Press on Friday.

Middleton and Sherman’s inclusion is notable (and intentional) due to the cities they now occupy as MLB owners: Philadelphia and Kansas City, of course, the Athletics’ former homes before the franchise moved to Oakland in the late 1960s.

Their job will be to “evaluate the team’s application, define the new operating territory and television territory, then make a recommendation to Manfred and the eight-man executive council,” according to the AP.

The ensuing owner vote, which needs 75% approval (so, 23 of the 30 owners) to pass, is expected to be a formality. The A’s cleared the last significant hurdle in their relocation efforts back in mid-June, when the Nevada state legislature approved $380 million in public funding for the A’s proposed ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip.

Still, even if it’s not expected to produce any terribly shocking results, it’s at least noteworthy that Middleton will have somewhat of a say in moving the relocation process along for the A’s — and hey, if it ends up falling through the cracks, maybe we can partially credit the Phillies for keeping the A’s in Oakland.

One can dream.

Must-read (or watch) Phillies content

• Read Phillies Nation’s Tim Kelly’s recap of Friday’s epic win.
• Matt Gelb of The Athletic wrote about the Phillies “balling out.”
• Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia compiled some great quotes from the clubhouse after Friday’s win, including from Pache, who “jumped because it looks sexy.”
• Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote about Pache’s heroics and relationship with fellow outfielder Brandon Marsh.
• OK, quick dose of bad news. Andrew Painter had a setback.
• Phillies Nation‘s Destiny Lugardo wrote about Noah Song’s chances to crack the big league roster sometime this month.
• This may be the most aggressive dousing yet, but it’s well-deserved:

• The Phillies are on fire. So on fire, even, that one might say Sparks are Flying. (Sorry, couldn’t think of a better lyrical tie-in, but if you can, please Speak Now.)

Former Phillie Nation

• He didn’t earn a save, but David Robertson closed out a 10-inning Mets win over the Padres on Friday. It was their sixth victory in a row. Something to monitor, at least.
• Jean Segura went 2-for-4 for the Marlins against the Phillies in Friday’s series opener. Revenge? Maybe. Call It What You Want, but what the Phillies did in the ninth was … wait for it …

… Better Than Revenge.

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