Phillies Extend Manager Pete Mackanin’s Contract

The Phillies and Manager Pete Mackanin have agreed to a new two-year contract covering the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Vice President & General Manager Matt Klentak announced today. This contract, which includes a club option for the 2018 season, replaces the contract previously signed by Mackanin last September.

Mackanin, 64, had been working under a one-year contract for 2016 with an option for 2017. He had agreed to that extension on September 22, 2015 after being named interim manager of the Phillies on June 26, following the resignation of Ryne Sandberg. The Phillies went 37-51 under Mackanin last season, which included a 21-12 stretch from July 17 through August 23, the fourth-best record in the major leagues during that span.

"When Andy (MacPhail) and I took the interim tag off after Ruben was let go, we felt like the way he had run the team the second half of the season, was an indication of what he was capable of," Phillies assistant GM Scott Proefrock told me on the Sports Bash on Friday.

In his first Spring Training as Phillies Manager, Mackanin has guided the Phillies to a 14-7-2 record in Grapefruit League play.

Mackanin has worked for the Phillies for six of the last seven seasons. He served as bench coach for four seasons (2009-12) before returning as third base coach the last two years (2014-15). In between stints he worked as a pro scout for the New York Yankees in 2013. Mackanin is the eighth Phillies manager to have also played and coached for the team.

Having previously served as interim manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2005) and Cincinnati Reds (2007), Mackanin’s all-time managerial record stands at 90-104.