Report: Phillies Plan to Hire Andy MacPhail

Changes are indeed coming to the Phillies front office.

According to a CBS Sports report, the Phillies are planning to hire Andy MacPhail to a key role in their organization.

A previous report by Jim Salisbury had surfaced on June 15th claiming that the Phillies were "targeting" MacPhail to be their new president of baseball operations.

In the CBS Sports report, Jon Heyman cites "people familiar with the team's thinking and expects an announcement to come "within a week or so."

MacPhail, 63, built two World Series winners in Minnesota with the Twins in 1987 and 1991 before going on to have stints in Chicago with the Cubs and most recently with the Orioles.

The Phillies are approaching a crucial time for the future of their organization with the MLB trade deadline six weeks away. Many veterans that remain with the team can be had in trades, including Cole Hamels who many view as the top pitcher on the trade market. The placement of MacPhail with the franchise would allow him to at least participate with the club at the deadline.

Current team president Pat Gillick and general manager Ruben Amaro could be viewed as lame ducks as Gillick isn't a permanent fixture, while Amaro's contract expires at the end of the season.

It looks like MacPhail will be hired as the next team president with Gillick returning to a consultants role, the same capacity he had when David Montgomery was president of baseball operations.