Two factors will determine if Charlie Manuel is back next season for the Phillies (and neither has to do with winning)

News Type: Event — Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:11 AM EDT

sports, mlb, philadelphia, phillies, charlie-manuel, philaidelphia-phillies

Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel.

In yesterday's Philadelphia Daily News it was reported that Phillies General Manager Pat Gillick will be back next season to serve out the final year of his contract. Now eyes are turning to Manager Charlie Manuel whose contract ends at the end of this season.

Whether or not Manuel is back next season does not depend on the Phillies making the play-offs. I know the team has not made the post-season since 1993 and have been on the cusp of it for years now but this Phillies ownership often defies logic. Here are the two factors that will determine if Charlie Manuel is back next season.

First, does Manuel even want to manage again? Last season I remember him saying that he just wanted to finish out his contract and retire to West Virginia. This season when the subject of another contract comes up he just mumbles something about waiting to see in the off season. He has not come right out and said that he wants to be back but he also has not said recently that he has no intention of returning.

Second, is Charlie Manuel willing to return as one of the lowest paid managers in baseball and for just one season? Manuel is reportedly earning just $800,000 this year. Many managers in smaller markets are earning more than that¹. I suspect that if the Phillies offer him a contract that it will be for just one season since then their General Manager and Manager positions would be vacant at the same time. Then it would be easy to hire a new GM and he could have some say in who the Manager would be.

So, do I think Charlie Manuel will be back next season? I think there is a better than 50-50 chance that he will be back. Managing Partner David Montgomery seems to like him, meaning Manuel does not rock the boat by publicly criticising players or ownership. If the Phillies offer him a slight raise then I suspect that Charlie Manuel will have a hard time turning down around a million dollars to coach one more season.

1. Royals & Brewers managers make $825,000. Giants manager $1.75 million. Braves manager $3 million.

Cross posted to the I Write Sports blog.

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Michael Sautter's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Sports Fans, Sports Writers Guild, Talkin' Baseball
Regions: Philadelphia

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3.1

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Michael Sautter

Of course 'will he be back' and 'should he be back' are two different things to Phillies fans.

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#1 - Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:16 AM EDT

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Michael Sautter

Today Charlie Manuel is meeting with the Phillies' MP David Montgomery and GM Pat Gillick to talk about a new contract.

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1 vote

#2 - Tue Oct 9, 2007 9:52 AM EDT

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MICHAEL SAUTTER

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Two factors will determine if Charlie Manuel is back next season for the Phillies (and neither has to do with winning)

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