When the Phillies dismissed manager Pete Mackanin as the 2017 season was about to end, the Phillies also allowed their entire coaching staff to become free agents.  Phillies hitting coach Matt Stairs, who was named Phillies hitting coach just under one year ago, replacing Steve Henderson, was thought to be a strong candidate to return to the coaching staff after a successful 2017 campaign.  However, Stairs will be moving on.



Padres beat reporter Dennis Lim

The move could mean one of two things:  The Phillies have selected a manager and Stairs was informed that he would not be selected as the hitting coach, or, Stairs was not going to pass up an opportunity to coach while the managerial hiring process played out.  Stairs, who left the Phillies broadcast booth to join the coaching staff, may have preferred the job security, even though he found success with the Phillies.

Stairs played with the San Diego Padres after spending late 2008 and 2009 with the Phillies.

The Phillies are reportedly close to naming a manager, with Dusty Wathan, Gabe Kapler, and John Farrell named among finalists, though there could be more candidates we are unaware of.  An external candidate like Farrell may be more likely to hire his own coaching staff compared to Wathan, the internal candidate.

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