2:34PM: The Phillies have announced Fuld’s promotion. Also, Jorge Velandia was promoted to assistant general manager from special assistant to the GM (as reported earlier today by Jim Salisbury) and former Twins GM Terry Ryan will move into the special assistant role from his past position as a Phillies special assignment scout.
12:59PM: The Phillies are set to promote Sam Fuld to the role of general manager, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury (Twitter link). Fuld has been working for the team for the last three seasons as the director of integrative baseball performance.
Much like Philadelphia’s recent hire of Dave Dombrowski as the president of baseball operations, the news comes as something of a surprise, as there wasn’t any indication that Fuld was under consideration for the GM role. However, after months of uncertainty about the front office after former GM Matt Klentak was reassigned, the Phillies’ baseball ops pyramid is now led by the one-two punch of a veteran executive in Dombrowski and a younger, first-time general manager in Fuld.
It was only back in 2017 that Fuld retired from a playing career that saw him play in 598 Major League games from 2007-15 with the Cubs, Rays, Athletics, and Twins. Fuld moved from the diamond to the Phillies’ front office, operating (as he explained to Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2018) in a role that allowed him to transmit and teach analytical data provided by the front office to the Phillies’ players. “I can appreciate what it’s like to step in the box and understand that some of the things that we may be asking them to do are really, really hard,” Fuld told Breen. “I think that’s been an issue in the past I’ve seen. Players are told to do something from someone that doesn’t quite have playing experience at a high level and it can be frustrating when you’re told to do something that is really, really difficult. It’s taken for granted sometimes. Hopefully I can relate.”
The skillset of being able to blend recent playing experience with new-age analytical data made Fuld a sought-after managerial candidate in recent years, though he turned down most interview requests before finally sitting down with the Red Sox about their managerial vacancy this past fall. Fuld was known to be a finalist for the position the Sox re-hired former skipper Alex Cora.
Rather than turn to managing, the 39-year-old Fuld will now take a new path as a GM. He joins the Rangers’ Chris Young and the Mariners’ Jerry Dipoto as current general managers who also played in the majors (Oakland executive VP of baseball operations Billy Beane also has MLB experience.) Young’s recent hiring in Texas might be the most obvious comp, as both Fuld and Young are recently retired players working under seasoned presidents of baseball operations — Dombrowski in Philadelpha and Jon Daniels in Texas — who will have the final say on personnel moves.
Good luck
Good decision. I like it.
Agreed
Wow. Fuld was a player as recently as 2015. Quick rise to the top. I like to see former players in these top spots.
Actually, I believe it was 2017. He was on Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic that shocked everyone in making the second round. I think they had victories over Cuba and the Netherlands, which had the 7′ pitcher and several stars from Curacao including Jurickson Profar, Xander Bogaerts, Didi Grigorius and Kenley Jansen.
Definitely an interesting concept. One of my master’s degree final was centered around the idea that there aren’t enough former players and coaches in leadership positions (athletic directors, general managers, etc.) for colleges and professional sports. The flavor in college is to put fundraising and businessman in charge of athletics while pro teams are moving towards “computer nerds.”
Even though he won’t be the top dog, I’m very curious to see how Fuld performs. Having played so recently, I hope he can use that to his advantage when helping construct a baseball team that can win in 2020.
Fuld is a serious student of analytics, a “computer nerd.”
Pads Fans- first, sorry to hear about Clevinger, I was genuinely excited to see your rotation for 2021. Not as excited as you no doubt….. from a Mariner’s fan
You’d have to think Sam Fuld is an exceptionally smart young man that’s an excellent communicator if an org like the Phillies is hiring him with such little FO experience. It’s a thrilling appt. if you ask me.
This hire is nothing more than a formality. DD is the key hiree here. Fuld will just execute whatever orders come from DD. They could’ve hired me as GM. It would have had the same consequence.
Good for him, nonetheless. He will learn from one of the most experienced GMs active today, and also provide feedback upward to help DD learn as well. Both men will benefit, and the Phillies should too
Joeyg2033- You don’t know that, you’re just making an educated guess. You have no idea how the complexities of the relationship will impact DD’s day to day
good for him
I love this move. A young up and coming GM who can work and learn the ropes from DD.
well that’s one way to keep him in the organization
This was exactly what I thought!!
The Phillies fulding their cards I see.
You about to work out? Is that why you’re stretching so much?
Nah just got a thing for crappie puns. It comes with being a Dad I guess. I usually save my workout till around 830 though.
I enjoyed your pun.
I thought it was beautifuld
Huhh
Like Fuld’s former position, this move is very Left Field
He played plenty of center field as well
Well, I think this is a good idea
Strange hire
Not at all
He’s familiar with the “organization” …well maybe that’s not a great description but. He’s an analytics guy, a former player and a Kapler protégé.
Phillies fans find out DD doesn’t wait for it to rain….he makes it rain.
Fuld is bright, personable, up to date with all the numbers, and has the cred, from playing. Great choice. Philly has a future.
He might be pretty good, but the Phils are in a tough spot in terms of competing in the near term; they do not have the prospects nor the current talent on their roster to get over the hump and win some division titles, so we will see how creating Dombrowski and Fuld can be.
Oh, the Phillies are a mess…bit like the Red Sox actually…SOME quality players, surrounded by AAAA types, no depth, lousy system.
A definite challenge. But DD is already good at what he does, and IMHO Fuld will be.
I’m loving recent players like fuld and young becoming GMs
Part of it is the shift of duties to PBO positions, I think the GM jobs are a bit more focused than they used to be in a lot of organizations.
That’s one way to keep him in the fuld
Badda Bing!
Sam & Dave, interesting. “Hold on I’m comin”
The Cubs signed Mark DeRosa in 2007 —> Traded him to the Indians and got back a package that included Chris Archer after 2008 —> Traded Chris Archer + SAM FULD to TB for Matt Garza pre 2011 —> That fall Sam Fuld takes a huge bases loaded PH walk in the bottom of the 8th down 7-0 in game 162 that scores the first run of a comeback that sends TB to the playoffs and completes Boston’s late season collapse —> Theo, fed up with the collapse and the “Beer and Chicken” scandal leaves Boston for Chicago.
Hence is Sam Fuld directly responsible for the Cubs winning the world series
No he is not responsible at all for the Cubs winning the world series or Epstein coming to the Cubs
Clearly Fuld is not responsible. Jon Daniels didn’t resign Mark DeRosa which kicked it all off. Jon Daniels is singularly responsible for the outcome 2016 World Series.
cpeiken: I really appreciate the 6 degrees of separation. Nice research.
Now THAT is deep! You think like me, and for that, I’m truly sorry for you
Hahahaaha
People LOVE LOVE LOVE this dude. I bet he ends up being a great GM, but it doesnt work out in Philly. Something about how they are talking about finances signals there is a MUCH larger problem than just the revenue dip and just like the gremlin over at Wrigley, I think we see lots of “Phillies runner-ups” until we get more info.
Just a hunch, I dont have much in the way of additional information other than middletons word choice and hysterical defensiveness when called cheap.
Wrong
i actually think his knowledge of analytics could actually make him one of the most capable of dealing with financial constraints.
I dont disagree, but it sure feels like there is franchise instability on the horizon.
His quote about Zach Wheeler never being available screamed “the lady doth protest too much” and that there is something larger going on beneath the surface.
Also gotta love a kid who inherits his money and then sues his own siblings as a steward that you can count on to do the right things for the fans/franchise when things get tough.
Move makes sense with Dave Dombrowski at the helm. Pretty sure that he interviewed with the Red Sox for manager this past fall
Yea as the article stated he interviewed for the Red Sox managerial position. Reading the article could have been your first clue.
Lol
Well I guess it worked out that they already had him in the “fuld”
Good move. It’s better than hiring the same, failed GMs over and over.
Good hire. Sam Fuld has been talked about the last several years as being a future GM.
Good hire. Wasn’t expecting this and GM talk seemed to go away after DD hire.
Fuld knows the Phillies well and hopefully watched Fail and Klentak to know what not to do.
First thing is re-sign JT
Will probably hire his uncle Elmer (who mis-spells his last name) to be the AGM.
FO settled. Now they just need players…
The Legend of Sam Fuld returns.
wow took long enough for someone to bring this up lol
Sam Fuld and Chris Young are also graduates of elite universities, Fuld at Stanford and Young at Princeton.
The last Stanford grad to ascend to an MLB general manager slot was Brodie Van Wagenen, who had a rough go of it with the Mets.
Not to mention he attended Exeter (N.H.) Academy known for their library by architect Louis Kahn.
I do like it when a New Hampshire boy makes good.
Sammy Two- Fuld!
Dang. Seems like nobody wants to hire anyone from the Royals front office. Wonder why?
Isn’t it obvious? Time has reduced the power of the monarchy, and today it is broadly ceremonial. Are we sure they are any good? Plus, there’s the whole Prince Andrew thing, they way they handled Meghan, and the changing public perception based on The Crown…kind of toxic right now, so best to keep calm and carry on.
nice….wish I had written it….
A nice move by Dombrowski. Fuld can learn from him while providing at least some analytics that Dombrowski sorely lacks. Certainly better than sticking with sad sack Ned Rice.
GREAT move! Outside of Craig Breslow, Sam Fuld is the smartest person in baseball. He is literally a genius; yes, literally.
Hopefully he will be able to handle the rigors of a General Manager job though. While MLB players would play three hours or so in a game, GM’s often have no start or end time when they work, and I believe Fuld is a Type 1 diabetic and needs constant breaks or naps or shots or something.
Either way, great hire!
Interesting choice. Sneaky good hire!
Will there be changes in the front office–or does it remain the same.
Rice has to go.
Klentak has to go.
Player development has to change.
Does he have any real authority?
Good for the Phillies! Was hoping the Red Sox could get him but I’m happy about this move. So many teams like the Phillies seem to be a mess and really need to be directed by knowledgeable leadership. As one of my 29 favorite teams, I wish them well.
Fuld me, I thought they would hire someone else.
Super Sam Fuld!
Billy Owens – 22 years front office experience and mentored by one of the best GM’s in the game, not a GM
Sam Fuld – 5 years front office experience, GM
But please tell me how the most qualified guy gets these jobs. It’s my favorite fairy tale.
Queue the insults and name calling in three, two, one….
It’s about the youth, sabermetrics, and algorithms today. Sorry, but if anybody has a memory of using a rotary phone in their lives, there’s not much place for them in today’s game aside from waving to the fans and signing some autographs. Is Billy Owens up-to-date with the latest statistical analysis? I did a quick search but couldn’t find anything on it, so he’s probably from the old school crowd, which is on its way out.
Really? Kind of a smarmy post. I have a pretty decent grasp of the advanced stats and physics and used a rotary phone in my lifetime.
Beyond smarmy and just idiotic.
Didn’t Billy Owens turn away interest from the Mets and Phils? I thought the general belief is that Owens is GM in Waiting for the A’s?
Where did Andy Mac go!
As a side note my brother’s wife who does not care a bit baseball, knows about Sam Fuld because he is a diabetic
As for me I always admired Sam and wish him good luck
I believe his contract is up at the end of the 2021 season and he’s planning on retiring. iirc he said if the Phillies wanted to hire someone for 2021 and forward, he would step aside.
Ah ha and thank you
The under-the-radar move is bringing in Terry Ryan, who’s forgotten more about MLB than most ever knew.. With DD leading the charge, like I said, Phillie Phuture is Phantastic.
Fuld et all will just have to learn to live at the speed of Dombrowski. As much as Andropulous, he acts, not just reacts. In a world where everybody is “doing diligence” and “considering options” and all that BS, those guys move, don’t talk about moving.
Fair warning tho. DD REALLY thinks all the metric stuff is for fantasy players (you can tell not by his words, but by his actions). There’ll be some GREAT conversations between he and Fuld (probably with Ryan playing referee); worth just to listen and learn.
Oh ya, and Joe G……Philly writers are about to get a PhD in MLB…..
You don’t know that.
MacPhail brought in Terry Ryan four years ago.
The Legend of Sam Fuld continues.
Not a Phillies fan, but I like the collective hires of DD and Fuld. Nice blend of the old and the new.
The Phillies seem top heavy. Dave Dombrowski, Sam Fuld, Jorge Valandia, Terry Ryan, Matt Klentak…
Wouldn’t be right without recalling a little Sam Fuld hang time. youtu.be/s4UaxlOoxAM
Kenny Williams of the White Sox also has MLB experience.
Superman wears Sam Fuld pajamas.
New Hampshire born! Good, hard nosed player who’s a star baseball executive in the making!
Director of Integrative Baseball Performance? That’s why ticket prices are so high.
Career 5.1 WAR and .227 batting average player. Guess he’ll know who’s better than him?
Its funny to hear you guys talk about analytics. I sell “analytics” software. Its literally just data analyst consolidating internal and publicly available baseball data and serving it up in a dashboard so executives can understand it.
There’s more to it than that.
Garbage in, garbage out smart guy
This interests me because I am a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society:
Twenty-five years ago, just five years after receiving his Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries, John Dewan, FSA, left a highly successful career as an insurance actuary to pursue a life-long dream, the development of the most timely and comprehensive computer database in sports. This became STATS, Inc., a sports statistics company that was eventually sold to Rupert Murdoch and FOX News for 45 million dollars. John is the author of four volumes of The Fielding Bible and the owner of Baseball Info Solutions, which provides analytical services to 22 of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams.
We talked to John about his background as an actuary and how he became so interested in baseball stats. If you’re interested in learning more, John hosted a webinar on Predictive Analytics and Baseball on September 27th, 2016 (click here to purchase the recording). His last webinar, an overview of Actuarial Science and Baseball Statistics, is also available on ACTEXeLearning, click here to view more. The webinar will cover how improving data collection changed the sport of baseball, specific examples of the applications of data mining and actuarial science to baseball, areas of overlap between actuarial science and sports analytics, and how you can get involved in the growing industries of sabermetrics and sports analytics. This is the first webinar in a 2-part series. The second webinar in the series will go more in-depth into how predictive analytics can be applied to baseball.
Is it a prerequisite for baseball GMs to be handsome? The only one that isn’t that I can think of is Anthopolis in Atlanta. Just saying. lol. For managers on the bench it seems also to be true nowadays. lol.
Oh ya, Avila in Detroit is gorgeous……in a fat, over 60, balding kind of way…..
Prediction: the A’s will give up a top prospect to have Sam Fuld play CF for a handful of games this year
Seem to be thumbing their nose at calls for diversity?
Is Venezuela diverse?
Fuld and Young are not comparable to DiPoto, who heads baseball operations. The former are the equivalent of AGMs in an organization without title inflation.
Assistant Regional Manager…. Assistant TO THE Regional Manager
I’m beginning to think all this analytical stuff is nothing but a lot of hocus-pocus generated by Ivy League MBAs and PhDs. Really, has any team won a WS recently where anyone can truly say, “It was all analytics!”.?
I once had a former MLB SS and scout tell me, “I don’t need a computer. Show me a baseball game from T-Ball on up to the majors, and it won’t take me more than an inning or two to tell you who the best players on the field are.”.
Good enough opinion for me.
Good Luck. Not much to work with. Would trade the entire farm system for some legitimate arms and a CF. Would try to do a change of scenery trade with Odubels contract or bite the bullet and play him.