Philadelphia Phillies: Ownership crying poor is quickly becoming a tired act

The Philadelphia Phillies cheap approach to this year’s offseason is already getting tiresome.

After a super strange and shortened 2020 season, it was obviously expected that revenue around the MLB would be down. A full 102 games were knocked off the schedule, fan attendance was not a factor, and the American economy in general was in a rough spot due to the global pandemic. With so many external factors in play, the Philadelphia Phillies themselves would be getting hit hard as well.

With that said, John Middleton and the rest of the Phillies ownership group have gone above and beyond in terms of using the pandemic as a financial “excuse”.

First, there was the infamous “Who wants to uproot in the middle of a pandemic?” quote that Andy MacPhail delivered when speaking on the possibility of hiring new front office executives. The soundbite when viral on social media, eventually leading to the team beginning interview processes with a handful of GM/President candidates.

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After that hilariously bad choice of wording from the team’s current President, Middleton double downed on the pandemic excuse and laid off close to 100 front office employees. Not only is this a brutal action to take considering Middleton’s personal wealth and the financial status of the Phillies franchise (it’s a freaking cash cow, y’all), but it sends a seriously bad message out to future employees. Why would an impressive front office exec. want to work for the Phillies if this is how they treat their employees during a time of turmoil?

Finally, there was the fraudulent report that surfaced over the weekend via NY Daily News. The article made the claim that the Philadelphia Phillies franchise lost $2 billion due to the pandemic, and that they wouldn’t be able to afford JT Realmuto because of it. Obviously, that was a ridiculously incorrect number, and one that the NY Daily News eventually corrected (they removed the statement on JT as well).

According to multiple sources, the Phillies actually lost about $145 million, right in line with what most teams around baseball are expected to lose.

While some people were quick to blame the outlet on their incorrect number, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if this overvaluation came directly from someone connected to the Phillies ownership. It’d be pretty strange for NY Daily News to just flat out make up a number like that.

Ultimately speaking, it’s been excuse after excuse after excuse when it comes to the Phillies failures as of late. Can’t find a good general manager? Blame the pandemic. Too cheap to pay your employees? Blame the pandemic. Can’t find a way to re-sign the best catcher in baseball? Blame the pandemic.

As much as they’re trying to make it seem this way, the Phillies aren’t alone in terms of battling financial loss. Not only is every other MLB team struggling with it, but pretty much every single business in the world is struggling with it. COVID-19 has affected millions of individuals, not just John Middleton and the Phillies.

In terms of strictly baseball, the Atlanta Braves just splashed $26 million on their rotation and the Miami Marlins just hired a new general manager. The pandemic clearly wasn’t hamstringing their ability to improve this offseason.

Middleton and the rest of the Phillies ownership crew are going to have to make a decision rather soon. Do they want to compete in 2021? Or do they want to remain the laughingstock of Philadelphia. One way or the other, it all comes down to what John Middleton wants to do with his multi-billion dollar net worth.