The Philadelphia Phillies let go 80 employees on Wednesday, reducing their front office workforce by 20%, reports Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer. A number of Major League teams have diminished their staffs since the pandemic prompted revenue losses all across the sporting landscape, but the Phillies brought their own particular panache to the unfortunate business of layoffs. Hayes reports that employees were alerted of the latest cuts by email the day before Thanksgiving.
The 80 positions that were eliminated came via buyouts and layoffs on both the business and baseball side of the front office, notes Gary Miles, also of the Philadelphia Inquirer. This is just the latest in a number of cost-cutting efforts made by the Phillies to counterbalance the losses of the past year. A letter in June gave employees some idea of the scope of revenue depletion with which the organization was wrestling, and a round of salary reductions impacted employees making more than $90K. Middleton himself forewent his salary, but none of it was enough to stave off the eventual slimming of personnel files.
Managing partner John Middleton hasn’t always put forth the best optics since taking over the Phillies in 2016, and this latest bit of personnel management certainly falls into that camp. Even if these layoffs were delayed by some time, and even if most of them were buyouts, the timing of the notice certainly paints a grim picture.
Meanwhile, the Phillies continue to search for a new GM to lead their now-depleted baseball operations team. Word is they’ve tabled the search for a president of baseball ops, but they continue to seek a new GM. On the one hand, the tepid free agent market and a presumably long winter provide opportunity for the Phillies to exert some patience in their search for a new top decision-maker. On the other hand, the Atlanta Braves – their division rival and incumbent team-to-beat in the NL East – are setting the pace early by adding two viable arms to their already-strong rotation.
No GM and letting go 80% staff – communicated day before Thanksgiving — bad optics. Throwing snowballs at Santa lives!
It was 80 staffers @20%.
And article states “via buyouts and layoffs on both the business and baseball side of the front office” Pretty sure these were negotiated awhile ago. As someone who in my life took a buyout AND was laid off; buyouts take a certain amount of time and layoffs people generally know who and when….
And the snowball thing was over 50yrs ago….find a new schtick
Sorry – 20%. I understand things are in motion, but seriously, putting the final nail in the coffin the day before Thanksgiving is why it’s bad optics. It just looks bad, man. I’m sure someone in human resources (or with a heart) would have told them that, had they had it run by them first.
The infamous Santa pelting is as a defining moment in Philly’s history as the Liberty Bell. Some schticks should stick.
It should stick. They threw snowballs at Santa!
The infamous Santa pelting is as a defining moment in Philly’s history as the Liberty Bell. Some schticks should stick.
No, it shouldn’t. Most of the drunk ass fans that did it are also either dead or in elderly care facilities at this point as well. Why should that define the current generation of fans? A lazy, played out and stupid argument.
Philadelphia fans of any generation would boo an armless war vet parade, the Easter bunny & the Liberty Bell. Carry on.
Not true in any sense of the word. But your handle is a nice reminder that New York easily has the largest population of trash fans in the entire world. The media may consider you their darlings. But don’t worry, the rest of us still notice a large abundance of garbage when we see it. Carry on.
It was just a guy dressed as Santa, by many people probably not even alive anymore. Let it go.
I live in NY. Drunk idiots are drunk idiots. It doesn’t matter if they’re from NY, Philly or Jersey. I’ve seen Yankee fans urinate on Red Sox fans. I’ve seen Mets fans punch teenage girls in the face. I’ve seen Philly fans curse at kids.
The fact that people think different fanbases have different personalities and different levels of integrity is absolute ridiculous. Drunken fools are always drunken fools. Doesn’t matter what team they root for.
It’s also important to remember that for every 1 drunken idiot, there are about 10,000 normal fans that are just there for entertainment.
Coming from NY trash your ignorant comment means exactly nothing.
Alexander–What do you disagree with what Von Purple says? I’m sure where you are from there are percentagewise as many idiots as in NY and Philadelphia. In fact, your comment is an example of that.
Never forget he was a disheveled drunk Santa.
Not at all. I was speaking to NYstateofmind 2
@NYS
A bit harsh, but anyone who has been to sporting events in Philly (NHL, NFL,MLB) knows that the fans are in too large a percentage parochial simpletons and all too often drunk on game day. I’ve attended games in both states for over 40 years and it’s as true today as ever. I mean what other municipalities have to grease the light poles. Lol.
I was at the Yankee parade in 98 where people were smashing cars on the street. I don’t lump that in with all Yankee fans. Big cities have big crowds. Every crowd has a few morons. Stop generalizing
Saying anyone should be raped or molested is about as low as you could go.Thanks for being the typical black eye for Philly fans.
I reported this comment as offensive yesterday. I’m surprised it hasn’t been removed yet.
I do imagine this is an atypical Philly fan. Every fanbase has its idiots.
Players should decide to each take 10% less even after their prorated amount 60/162. Maybe everyone over 3 million. They won’t have to visit the food bank.
@Yankeefan.. But Blake Snell gots to get paid.
Not a bad idea. If this is any indication, Wednesday is going to be a non tender bloodbath…
Players actually got paid a prorated amount on their salaries in 2020. Just like in Retail where prices will not go down to help generate more foot traffic but they will just lay off employees or shutter stores.
If the players should take 10% less, so should the owners. No need for the players to sacrifice just to line the pockets of the owners. Both groups could share their largesse with the other team employees and hardly notice, if they wanted to. But that typically is not the American way.
John Middleton is a disgusting, pathetic person. He should fire himself by selling the team to someone who is not a greedy tightwad. Go away Middleton.
Agree. He and Klentak ruined this team and handicapped this franchise
These layoffs are coming all over America thanks to shutdowns. It is the reality of the situation we are in. Yeah these organizations are millionaires/billionaires but they didn’t become millionaires/billionaires by taking losses. They make tough decisions but the business environment forces them to do it
Stop defending them dude. This is idea of privatizing (keeping) all the gains and then crying poor (Socializing Losses) when you suddenly stop making big gains for a year is literally capitalism at work. Profits are not guaranteed, but contracts are. This is ALL on the owners, if they really wanted a fluid situation to insulate themselves from the market, theyd have opened their books and made worker (player) salaries tied to annual business health. Instead they did everything in their power to hide figures hoarde numbers and supress salaries. These dudes deserve to be forced to sell the team if they didnt plan given how amazing the last 2o years have been economically for the sport. For F-sake, baseall literally was granted monopoly protection by the US government (the only sport to get that) and they still want more from the people that dont share in the profits.
Eat the rich (owners)
Boy, that comment about spending “stupid money” is coming back and biting Middleton in the butt. $330 million to Harper last winter to laying off 80% of the front office this winter. Maybe next time he’ll keep his big mouth shut. Wonder if Klentak is now grateful to be out of that mess?
Everyone is glad Klentak is out of this
He did not lay off 80% of the front office. He laid off 80 workers, which was 20% of the front office.
Harper was 2 years ago…Last winter is when we took Wheeler from your Muts
You’re going to blame the guy for something he said pre-pandemic? At the time that’s exactly what Phillies fans wanted. Oh and did I mention that was pre-pandemic? Your views are skewed dude. Coulda woulda shoulda does not apply here. Was he supposed to have a crystal ball that told him something was coming that would cause teams to have income issues?
Great comment !!!
This is a masochistic organization that enjoys shooting itself in the butt. I get the cuts; they’re probably coming everywhere (I don’t think anyone in MLB thinks they’ll be fans next year, for at least 25% of the games; they’ll be happy if there’s games in the first place)
But the days before Thanksgiving? By e-mail? Can’t we think of a better way to do this?
Once JT signs with the Mets, how long till his pals Harper and Nola have their agents call MacFail and demand their clients be traded? Over/ under? I say February 10th.
Oh, there will be fans. I plan on going to some games next year. Most games don’t come close to selling out anyway, so there will be plenty of options for social distancing, blocking off sections of seating, and so on.
@DrDan
Thats a clown comment bro.
Buyouts means employees were aware of this months ago. It’s still not great, but it wasn’t an out-of-the-blue email during a holiday. This just happens to be when the deadline was. Still bad optics, but not as bad as the majority of posters seem to think.
It’s 20% of front office which is 80 employees. According to article. It’s China fault
Two ways to look at this-
EMPLOYEE
You’re an idiot if you didn’t see this coming.
OWNER
You’re an idiot if you do this a day before Turkey Day.
Third way: Allow families to enjoy Thanksgiving and possible have to pay 80 people for two extra days before hitting send email.
What a present for thanksgiving
Do better next time
A least wait till next day
Yeah this definitely does not look good. I’ll defend Philly and its teams to the death, but ol’ Middleton needs to go stick his cigar face somewhere else
I agree the timing stinks, but at least they knew to not spend all their money on Black Friday.
I think the Phillies can fix this roster on the cheap and give them a chance to compete next year. They need a left handed hitting 4th OF’er to give Cutch a breather and act as an insurance policy for our superstar RF’er: Think Joc Pederson, 28 years old. We also need a left handed hitting corner infielder to conpliement Bohm and a recovering Rhys Hoskins: Think Tommy LaStella or Jake Lamb. You sign Marcus Semien on a 1 year pillow contract and sink or swim with Kingery at 2B. Segura is nice depth at three infield spots, or could be traded for a reliever. Offer JT 5/120, if he doesn’t take it, tell him to kick rocks. Knapp and his elite plate discipline showed he able to handle at least 50% of the catching duties. Would love to see them bring in Yadier Molina, someone that can come in and show this team what a winner is. Maybe kinda humble Bryce a little but by bringing in a guy like Molina. If they cant land him, how about Jeff Mathis? He could really, really help this pitching staff. Or you can go to the other side of the spectrum and get a bat-first backstop like Contreras or Ramos. As far as the pitching staff, I think Cole Hamels makes a lot of sense or maybe Jose Quintana. A lefty to balance out the rotation and slot in behind Eflin and in front of Spencer Howard. Wouldnt hurt to bring in a Chris Archer or Corey Kulber on a 1 year prove it deal to provide depth. As far as that atrocious bullpen, they need to cast a wide net of relievers and hope to strike gold with 1 or 2. Throw some money at guranteed contracts for Balke Trienen, Alex Colome and/or Brad Hand. Then offer minor league or low base incentive laden major league deals to, in no particular order: Wade Davis, Trevor May, Tyler Clippard, Trevor Rosenthal, Jake McGee, Brad Boxberger, Brad Brach, Jeremy Jeffress, Jesse Biddle, Greg Holland, Bryan Shaw, Steve Cisek, Tyler Chatwood. If I were Joe Girardi, I’d put Vinny V in the pen, and see if he can become a high leverage reliever with that power fastball. At the very least he can be a swingman. Doesnt sound like anything spectacular, but if you catch lightning in a bottle with 2 or 3 of those relievers and get production closer to 2019 from Semien. Maybe a strong bounceback from an Archer, Kluber or Hamels in the rotation? Crazier things have happened, but if this team is crying broke, I think these are logical moves.
@609C
Way too nuanced for the audience you need to reach. They’re still getting cheese steaks with imitation cheese…
“optics” should only be important to people who profit or lose based on them and people who dont understand the finer workings of something so that appearances are all they understand. as a fan who knows how front office finances work you should stop complaining about “optics” and perhaps A. understand its a bussiness or B. care a little more about the people losing money then concepts like “optics.”
This organization is a disaster. Covid hurt every team, but man…the Phillies aren’t recovering from this one. From planning to spend to this…wow. J.T. and Sixto will both be with division rivals. Not a lot of hope for Phillies fans in 2020.
I’m a full season ticket holder. They are using last years payment for the 2021 season. It will be my last. Had those seats since 2004. Not worth my time or energy any longer.
Us too. I regret not taking the refund they offered because they sure weren’t crying poor when they sent those renewals out.
Last place team next year.
Their whole philosophy the last few years is to splurge on 1 big FA every year and fill the rest of the gaps by poaching people from the Yankees, Phils will never win a title with this strategy.
Wow, day before Thanksgiving, not even the day after. What POS’s. Don’t expect anything else from the Phillies, though. Living down to their rep. This is the ownership you’re going to deal with, top free agents! pay attention.
All 80 people let go do not equal the salary of one middle reliever. This is a bunch of BS.