By Sam Bush
I am as pleased as anyone by the Phillies’ choice of Matt Klentak as general manager.
He’s bright, knows analytics and is from outside an organization that for too long rewarded seniority over competence.
But don’t think he can pull off any trade without clearing it with president Andy MacPhail (above left with Klentak), the man who hired him.
The Phillies have a good long-term plan now in place, a blueprint that MacPhail is working from, and they won’t deviate from it until they’re ready to win and contend.
The Phillies’ plan is to build the team through the amateur draft, international signings and trades rather than free agency, though they’ll still sign stopgap options or players they could flip at the trade deadline.
Progress in Philly will be slow but steady.
