Phillies Scouting Director Johnny Almaraz Steps Down

[Squire]

...purportedly at his own request but will stay in the organization as our 734th Special Assistant to Something or other.

Jim Salisbury on Twitter

[Philsmania]

The Phillies insist it's not demotion but you know what they say in politics when someone resigns to "spend more time with their family".

[zambonir]

Well it is certainly more amicable than Joe Jordan.

[bigegypt0417]

Matt Winkelman on Twitter

[fish]

Hopefully future history recalls how Almarez is responsible for drafting an impressive core of big league talent and his replacement actually produces substantial talent while he's on the job.

[zambonir]

Hard to evaluate any scouting director in a binary way, but particularly not this one. It's fair to say that given the draft picks he had to work with he darn well better have done a good job and we can still be bummed about Moniak until proven otherwise. It's also fair to say his early drafts weren't necessarily his fault (though if we blame Amaro or Gilllick for Randoph or Moniak they still get credit for Kingery too). And his more recent drafts, with the full apparatus of the current front office, look good.

Mostly I just dislike the fact that it seems to have taken such a long time for these top-level changes to come; in both cases (Jordan being the other though you could also make the same argument about Mackanin) it seems Klentak (or MacPhail) were conservative and/or opting for stability, but then after a couple of years of overhauling things the guys they inherited finally decided to move on (or the front office decided to make a move). However, clearly the organization is much more patient than the fan base, Middleton included despite appearances at times.

Almaraz's assistant/rumored possible successor is a Klentak/Minnitti guy, so perhaps this was quietly in the works, or Almaraz saw the writing on the wall. We'll see how wide a net they cast for the job.

[California_Dreamin]

Far be from me to necessarily slap down the speculators [I used to be the king of speculation...Connect the Dots] but I would definitely suggest those that believe this was a demotion wait for all the facts to come out. I simply do not believe this is the case. I believe it was Almaraz's decision and not one that the Phils advocated or desired.

For one thing, the Phils rarely keep someone aboard who they have just demoted [fired?] and for another I suspect the Phils are pretty happy with what he has done in the past couple of seasons. Personally I am sorry to see him leave his position, other than Randolph I had no problem with his picks [when Moniak was picked I was his biggest cheerleader so far be it to second guess now] and really think he struck it rich with Bohm and Stott.

Let's hope the Phils ind a talented guy to replace him and that this doesn't involve once again completely revamping their scouting system.

[zambonir]

For one thing, the Phils rarely keep someone aboard who they have just demoted [fired?]

Mackanin? Manuel? Bowa? Those are three of the five (now six) other "special advisers."

But I agree he was probably not "fired." He is probably sincere in wanting a less demanding job, and the Phillies are still going to value him as a scout and in the room.

It would not really reflect that well on Klentak if they fired him, because they've done four drafts together and there's no information Klentak has now that he didn't have two years ago. That said, I still think it does bear some similarity to Jordan, and Kranitz - it's time for someone to run the department who is fully aligned with the new process and structure of the department (right or wrong).

[Austinfan]

The first couple years new personnel guys are hamstring by scouting contracts, scouts are often signed to multi-year deals, so you can't just strip your old organization and bring in your guys (and some won't want to move in any case).

The drafting has improved the last few years, not just at the top but throughout the draft.

LA is more concerning, almost no one of value the last few years other than Sixto. Last year SD, this year Suarez stepped up, but most of the pitchers came in trades, Eflin, Velasquez, Pivetta, Arano, etc. Ortiz, Pujols, etc., too many free swingers, and all the bonus IFs have come up short so far. Medina, Morales have yet to demonstrate command.

[zambonir]

The first couple years new personnel guys are hamstring by scouting contracts, scouts are often signed to multi-year deals, so you can't just strip your old organization and bring in your guys (and some won't want to move in any case).

I'd be surprised if this was true to any great extent. Maybe the occasional two-year deal, much like the major league field staff. Was Joey Davis (who just left for Atlanta) under contract? The Mets also just started a purge in what is still Year 1 for their GM.

This is also an expense any high-revenue team could easily eat. Most of these guys don't even make as much money as the AAA manager, probably. Anyway, Klentak eventually did his purge, he just chose to keep the guy at the top.

[gmwannabe]

never nice to see one lose a job, but i think pitching (the failure of drafting) did him in. Gore, Liberatore. Manning are just a few. i know there has been a good debate on this site about drafting high school pitching with high picks (still have hope for gowdy). the phils are learning the hard way. no pitching...no winning. besides howard and medina, not much in the pipeline. maybe seabold, D. jones. we'll see.
gm

[California_Dreamin]

Again,I do not believe he lost his job. I believe this was his decision, probably just no longer wants to be on the road so much. I suspect this is family related or that he is ill. If he had lost his job, it would likely mean he wanted to keep it and as such, would want to do it again.

Instead he took a lesser position with the Phils. I think he made the call. And let's be honest, this would not be the best time to fire him...Kingery is turning into a star, Haseley is starting a year early, Howard could be in the rotation next year, Bohm and Stott look like great picks and Almaraz has done a great job with 3rd day picks.

I think this is a big loss.

[bigegypt0417]

History will always look positively on Almarez...he is responsible for the players listed above but also ran the braves international program when they signed Albies and Acuna.

His resume will have some impressive ML players on it.

[Philsmania]

That said, I still think it does bear some similarity to Jordan, and Kranitz - it's time for someone to run the department who is fully aligned with the new process and structure of the department (right or wrong).

Hence, I made my comparison to the person in politics or a high-profile position in government who steps down to proverbially "spend more time with the family". That's long been code word for getting out while they can still leave on their own terms. Perhaps he sees writing on the wall.

I guess I take a less positive view of Almaraz's performance than others. In today's game, it's all about finding value and return on investment. Well, in recent seasons the Phillies have had a lot to invest in terms of acquiring amateur talent--high draft picks, high bonus pools and high international spending allocations (allocations which they typically supplemented by trading for other team's unused amounts). Yet, the return on that sizable investment so far has been quite meager. In addition, with regard to the international section of things, I know some have practically canonized Agonstinelli here before but I also think the Latin America operation should be questioned. To date, only one player his operation has signed--Carlos Ruiz--has ever appeared in a ML All-Star Game and only one other--Carrasco--has reached what could be labeled a "star" level. Otherwise, all we get out of Latin America are serviceable but replaceable players. And, his operation has had some notable big money flops (MAG (RIP), Encarnacion, probably Ortiz). Meanwhile, elsewhere in our own division, the Braves and Nationals churn out guys like Acuña, Albies, Soto and Robles.

[bigegypt0417]

[quote="zambonir, post:8, topic:51766, full:true"]
I guess I take a less positive view of Almaraz's performance than others. In today's game, it's all about finding value and return on investment. Well, in recent seasons the Phillies have had a lot to invest in terms of acquiring amateur talent--high draft picks, high bonus pools and high international spending allocations (allocations which they typically supplemented by trading for other team's unused amounts). Yet, the return on that sizable investment so far has been quite meager. And, his operation has had some notable big money flops (MAG (RIP), Encarnacion, probably Ortiz). Meanwhile, elsewhere in our own division, the Braves and Nationals churn out guys like Acuña, Albies, Soto and Robles.

Do you find it interesting that two of those names, Acuna and Albies were signed while Almarez was in charge of that particular function?

Also...there is no real way to decide what you're already deciding.

[zambonir]

I personally always wondered why the Phillies hired a Latin American scouting genius to run domestic scouting. Talent is talent, but the connections, network and the nature of the department that you're running is totally different. He did have considerable domestic experience with the Reds before that, granted, but at that point he was just a scout.

I don't think Almaraz had a chance to truly succeed, personally. As bad as Wolever was, he was also the fall guy for a spiraling front office. When Almaraz was hired, did anything really change in the scouting department overall? Was he given more resources, different personnel, an opportunity to install a new philosophy? Not really, as far as I can tell. And those first two drafts are perceived as the worst ones. It was only after Klentak got his first year under him that big changes (including at the Assistant GM level) were made. The approach changed too.

I think you actually do have to wonder if Sal will be next (even if it's not for another year). As I've said, the overhaul has moved a bit slowly for my taste, but it has certainly been comprehensive. All of the scouting and development stuff is being run by the Assistant GM Minniti (whereas, as I've noted before, past scouting and development bosses were themselves Assistant GMs) and this is only his second season on the job (he was a consultant or whatever the year before that).

If they promote his assistant that doesn't strike me as a bad thing and if they go looking for an outside hire that's probably fine too.

[fish]

Again,I do not believe he lost his job. I believe this was his decision, probably just no longer wants to be on the road so much.

That’s what he says so we have to take his word, but I could see as an old school guy getting frustrated with having to be steered by analytics instead of his own preference. I suspect His preference gave us the gift of cornelious Randolph.

[bigegypt0417]

if his preference was old school then how do you explain the last couple of drafts?

Randolph would have been a pick that would have been heavily scouted prior to him being hired.

Analytics Night sheds light on Phillies’ changing process – Phillies Nation

[zambonir]

I think it can be true that he sees the changes happening around him and that he was ready to take a step back. Usually the special adviser job doesn't require you to live in Philly either.

But how much does the director of amateur scouting actually travel? Genuinely curious. The HS and college baseball season is not that long and don't even play that many games per week. There's tons of video on college players, and there are multiple layers of people on the ground (including people like Gillick and Mackanin and Bowa and the more executive level). I'd just be curious to know how many of our actual picks are personally witnessed by the top guy, as well as how many contenders (presumably just first and second rounders) are.

If he was truly, inexorably old school, presumably he would not have survived for another three years under this GM. Obviously they did work together well and have been on the same page for the most part.

[schillingfan]

Granted we are all speculating, but this is odd to happen before the season ends. If he takes another job over the off-season we’ll know that it was “involuntary.” If he doesn’t then we’ll know it was really for personal reasons.