Take one managerial job off the market for 2016 – the Philadelphia Phillies will be retaining interim manager Peter Mackanin for next season.
#Phillies have extended the contract of Pete Mackanin as manager through the 2016 season. The extension includes a club option for 2017.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 22, 2015
Mackanin’s Phillies have struggled overall this year, but the club is 30-46 since he took over for Ryne Sandberg at the end of June. Sandberg went 119-159 as Phillies skipper, and was just 26-48 this season before resigning.
Mackanin has received plenty of praise for the way he’s managed the team since being appointed interim manager, withstanding the trades of Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, Ben Revere, and Chase Utley in the second half to keep the team competitive.
This weekend, Mackanin also benched Odubel Herrera for not hustling and received praise for his handling of the situation.
Will Mackanin be the guy for the Phillies on a long-term basis? It’s unsure, but president Andy MacPhail was complimentary of his work.
Incoming team president Andy MacPhail on the hiring of Pete Mackanin as manager. pic.twitter.com/GxZtVsDJLv
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 22, 2015
The organization is moving on from its struggles in recent years, and they’re hoping the combination of MacPhail, Mackanin, and whoever ends up hired as GM can bring them back to the promised land.
