Phillies News: Matt Slater Interviewed For GM

The Philadelphia Phillies Interview Another GM Candidate

Yesterday morning, the Phillies announced that Andy MacPhail had officially assumed the role as the club’s president and had taken charge of the organization. Though Wednesday was his first official day on the job, it’s safe to say he’s put in some long nights over the past few weeks.

Not only did MacPhail fire former general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. just over a month ago, but he’s also fairly deep into the search for his successor at this point. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported that the club started their interview process with former Miami Marlins’ executive Larry Beinfest. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports also reported that the club was set to interview Kim Ng of the commissioner’s office and Ross Atkins, the Cleveland Indians Vice President of Player Personnel.

It’s unclear if the interviews of Atkins and Ng have taken place yet, but another one seems to have.

According to MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, the Phillies have interviewed St. Louis Cardinals’ director of player personnel Matt Slater.

"Matt Slater, the Cardinals’ director of player personnel, interviewed for the position last week, according to a Major League source."

As you can imagine with someone from the Cardinals’ organization, Slater has quite the resume.

"Slater joined the Cardinals organization in 2007 and was named Director of Player Personnel in January 2012. Over the course of his more than 20 year Major League Baseball career, he has helped build division winners and playoff teams in Baltimore, Los Angeles and St. Louis. In his current role as senior talent evaluator, Matt works hand in hand with the General Manager in all player acquisitions including Major League, minor league, amateur draft and international talent. Furthermore, he aids in negotiations and roster composition. Matt has also served as a consultant to the Orix Buffaloes Baseball Club in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.Prior to joining the Cardinals, Matt served in various management capacities for the Los Angeles Dodgers for nine years, including Director of Scouting Operations, Director of Baseball Operations and Director of Professional Scouting. While with the Dodgers, he oversaw scouting operations while also being involved with contract negotiations, arbitration and roster management. Before his time with the Dodgers, Slater worked with the Baltimore Orioles from 1995-98 as the Administrator of Scouting. He got his start in professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers when he was 19 years old. Beginning in 1991, he served as the Brewers’ Scouting and Player Development Assistant."

And Castrovince says that Cardinals’ general manager John Mozeliak thinks very highly of Slater.

"After stints in the front offices of the Brewers, Orioles, Angels and Dodgers, Slater joined the Cards in 2007 and was named to his current position in January 2012. He is one of general manager John Mozeliak’s prime point men on player acquisitions at the Major League, Minor League and amateur levels, and he has assisted in negotiations and roster composition."

The interview, according to this time-table, took place while the Cardinals were still in the post-season. They were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs earlier this week, so Slater would be free to start on this position immediately if he chose to do so.

It’s encouraging that the Phillies are going through a wide-ranging search for this position. MacPhail may be the guy in the front-office, but the general manager will still play a very important role, one that MacPhail went out of his way not to diminish upon dismissing Amaro. The general manager, like the situation we have seen in Cleveland this off-season, could also eventually replace the president, be it for retirement or any other reason.

Kansas City Royals’ assistant general manager J.J. Picollo and Los Angeles Angels’ assistant general manager Matt Klentak are among other names that have been speculated upon as possibilities for this spot. Their candidacy, at least to this point, is just speculation, though.

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