ESPN.com's Bradford Doolittle and Jerry Crasnick weigh in.? Who are the best fits? Crasnick:?The Phillies are well into their rebuilding phase and looking for someone who can grow with the team as it takes the final steps toward contending status. If they want a fresh face with the potential to be the 'next Joe Maddon,' here are three interesting names: Former Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez, who's currently a special assistant with the Dodgers. Ibanez was a finalist for the Doolittle: Gabe Kapler remains my favorite managerial candidate overall, so by definition I like him for the Phillies' job. But I think Ron Gardenhire works here as a experienced hand to guide a team about to turn the corner.

Who are some under-the-radar names to watch? Doolittle: Ibanez is going to get a shot at some point, and he might be worth a gamble. He'd be a hit with the young players and good with the media. But the lack of managerial experience is a concern. Brad Ausmus is a possibility too, I'd think.? Crasnick: Klentak is a Dartmouth guy, so maybe he taps into that connection and considers fellow Big Green alumnus Ausmus, who will not be back with the Tigers in 2018. Ausmus has a 313-330 record in four seasons with Detroit, but he's 48 years old and still highly regarded enough that he's likely to be in the mix for other managerial gigs in the near future.

Oct 30, 2017. Gabe Kapler has emerged as the front-runner to become the Philadelphia Phillies' next manager, a baseball source said Sunday. Kapler, the Los Angeles Dodgers' director of player development, was one of three finalists for the position, along with former Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell and Dusty. English font decoration, building and e-mail vector material. Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia Phillies Logo. Tango Font X Generic. Cs,@font-face,web safe font,font,www,cs. Web safe fonts VS @font-face.

How far away are the Phillies from their next postseason appearance? Doolittle: The lineup is almost there if, as a group, they can put together a full season. They need a veteran starter or two for next year and the market for those types is going be crowded.

But surely they can cobble together enough arms to make a run by 2019 and by then, hopefully the arrival of another wave of pitching prospects will open up a pretty nice window of contention. Crasnick:?It's a stretch to think the Phillies can ascend from 60-something victories to postseason contention next year, but they should be ready for a significant push in 2019. The Phils need to add some starting pitching to help Aaron Nola, but a lot of teams wish they had a budding position player core with the potential of Rhys Hoskins, Nick Williams, Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, Aaron Altherr & Co.

The Phils also have the resources to add some significant free agents in the next year or two. If the could go from 59 wins to a wild card berth in a year, the Phillies can be a legitimate postseason threat by '19.

The Associated Press FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2017, file photo, Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana connects for a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series, in New York. Two people familiar with the situation say the Phillies and veteran first baseman Carlos Santana have agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal. The people spoke Friday, Dec.

15, 2017, on condition of anonymity because the agreement is contingent on Santana passing a physical. The 31-year-old Santana hit 23 home runs and had 79 RBIs with Cleveland last season, where he had spent all eight years of his career. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File). Galaxy Remote Servicing Suite Manual Dexterity on this page. Carlos is bringing his big bat and postseason experience to the. The 31-year-old first baseman became the first of the offseason's big-name free agents to find a new home, agreeing Friday to a $60 million, three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to two people familiar with the deal. Download Maxwell Sv Software Update on this page. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement is contingent on Santana passing a physical.

Santana became the first to reach a deal among the nine free agents who last month rejected $17.4 million qualifying offers from their former teams. Philadelphia also traded shortstop Freddy Galvis to San Diego for minor league pitcher Enyel De Los Santos, and finalized two-year deals with relievers Tommy Hunter ($18 million) and Pat Neshek ($16.25 million). Santana hit 23 home runs with 79 RBIs for Cleveland, where he spent all eight of his big league seasons. He started as a catcher in 2010 and shifted to first base in 2015.

Santana, who has a.249 career batting average and.445 slugging percentage, is expected to play first base for Philadelphia. Slugger Rhys Hoskins would stay in left field, giving the Phillies a surplus of outfielders to use as trade bait for starting pitching. Under baseball's new labor contract, Cleveland gets an extra draft pick after the first round next June, and Philadelphia loses its second-highest selection and forfeits $500,000 of international signing bonus allotment for the 2018-19 signing period Galvis was a finalist for a Gold Glove the past two seasons and hit a career-best 20 homers in 2016. He was the longest-tenured Phillies player. The 28-year-old switch hitter averaged 13 homers, 59 RBIs and 14 steals along with a.253 average over the past three years.

Crawford, a first-round pick in the 2013 amateur draft, will take over at shortstop. Hunter was 3-5 with one save and a 2.61 ERA in 61 appearances last season for Tampa Bay, striking out 64 in 58 2/3 innings and holding opponents to a.202 batting average. Neshek was an All-Star for the Phillies this year before he was traded to Colorado. He went 5-3 with one save and a 1.59 ERA in 71 for the Phillies and Rockies.

Hunter gets a $6 million signing bonus and annual salaries of $6 million. Neshek receives a $4 million signing bonus and annual salaries of $5.75 million, and Philadelphia has a $7 million option for 2020 with a $750,000 buyout.

Neshek would get a $500,000 assignment bonus if traded. Despite finishing last in the NL East at 66-96, the Phillies improved in the second half as young players like Hoskins, Crawford, Nick Williams and Jorge Alfaro joined the lineup. They were 35-35 in the last 70 games and 39-37 overall against NL East opponents. The switch-hitting Santana gives the team a disciplined power hitter to protect Hoskins. He averaged 98 walks in seven full seasons and has a.365 career on-base percentage. Maikel Franco led the Phillies with 24 homers last season and Hoskins hit 18 in only 50 games.

Santana's departure is a big loss for Cleveland, which led the AL with 102 wins during the regular season but lost to the in a Division Series. Santana has a.213 average with four homers and eight RBIs in 21 career postseason games. ——— For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball.