Apr 10, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski before game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports Eric Hartline
Regardless of how the postseason pans out for the Phillies, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski says he has no intention for this to be his final stretch as an executive.
In an appearance on SportsRadio 94 WIP Friday, Dombrowski was asked if there's a possibility that he would retire after the season if the Phillies win the World Series, as Pat Gillick did following the 2008 title.
"No, I don't believe that's the case," Dombrowski told Joe DeCamara. "I don't know how many more years I'll do it. I have three more years on my contract, which I plan to fulfill. I enjoy what I'm doing. I'm very fortunate to work with a great organization, great ownership with John Middleton.
"So, I don't know how long I'll do it, but I can say that if we win a World Championship — and I hope we do – that I'll be back in Spring Training in 2025 doing my job."
The Phillies hired Dombrowski to be their president of baseball operations in December of 2020, and since then he's given them something they badly lacked during the Andy MacPhail/Matt Klentak regime: a strong face of the organization that comes off to everyone as being capable.
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Dombrowski is 68 years old, but you would never know it from being around him. He still travels to almost every road trip, which believe it or not, isn't necessarily the norm for all top executives around the sport.
Like all executives, Dombrowski has had some misses. The four-year/$72 million deal Taijuan Walker signed before the 2023 season looks like a disaster. It remains to be seen whether Austin Hays was enough of an upgrade to the outfield at the trade deadline. Even the five-year/$100 million deal Nick Castellanos signed prior to the 2022 campaign has had peaks and valleys.
But Dombrowski has done an excellent job finding value at the margins with players like Jeff Hoffman, Edmundo Sosa, José Ruiz, Spencer Turnbull and José Alvarado. Most executives if given the budget Middleton has allowed for will be able to sign the star players like Bryce Harper, Aaron Nola, Trea Turner and Zack Wheeler. Far fewer are able to uncover the diamonds in the rough that make up a World Series roster.
