Here’s what the Phillies new president told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki:
“I wasn’t really hired with any promises for this year,” he said. “We were going to try to build a really good ballclub in the future. We didn’t think we were a player away. So, let’s not do anything that’s foolhardy, like, trade [2020 first-round pick Mick] Abel for a guy that’s got one year left. ‘Hey, no problem. I get it.’
“I know [owners John Middleton and the Buck family] wanted to sign J.T. I mean, everybody wanted to sign J.T. I said, ‘We could sign J.T. back, but I don’t think we have a chance. I don’t think we have a club to win. I mean, he’s a really good player, but I think we have too many other holes. If you want to get better, then we need to do other things.’ And only over time did they say, ‘You know what? Let’s do those other things.’ [Middleton] said, ‘Do it, go ahead and keep doing it.’ So, it changed. I didn’t know it would change. But I also know that he didn’t want to lose. Ownership, period, doesn’t want to lose.”
The Phillies hope acquisitions like José Alvarado, Matt Moore, Chase Anderson, Brandon Kintzler, Matt Joyce, Sam Coonrod and others can elevate them into contention.
