Matt Klentak not the only Phillies employee facing job loss

These are tough times for the Philadelphia Phillies. And not just because the team missed the playoffs for the ninth year in row.

© Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com NJ Advance Media for NJ.com/nj.com/TNS
Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak (in red) watches top Major League Baseball prospect Jason Groome pitch for Barnegat High School in its season openerTuesday afternoon. 4/5/16

Speculation is growing that the Phillies are ready to fire general manager Matt Klentak. But The Athletic reports Klentak might not be the only team employee receiving a pink skip this fall.

The club sent an email Tuesday morning to all full-time employees to inform them a round of layoffs is “inevitable and will happen in the near future.” The club improved its buyout offer after the initial one offered two weeks ago was not enticing enough. The buyouts target many of the organization’s employees who are not in baseball operations. Most baseball officials are under contract and not eligible for the buyouts. But those areas — player development, scouting, research and development — could face reductions in November. Expiring contracts terminate Oct. 31.

“The economic climate is unprecedented and the past losses, coupled with significant projected losses in the future, make this approach unavoidable,” according to the email signed by team president Andy MacPhail and executive vice president Dave Buck. “You should be aware that while other clubs have already unilaterally reduced their workforces by a significant percentage, the Phillies have undertaken a more generous approach with the voluntary separation offer as the first step.”

According to The Athletic, the team previously offered a lump-sum payment of $10,000, along with a week’s pay for every year spent with the Phillies. However now the team is said to be offering $1,000 per year of completed service, with a maximum payment of $30,000. The Athletic reports if employees don’t accept the buyout and instead are laid off, they face a lump-sum payment maxing out at $5,000.

The layoffs would come following two years of increased spending under Klentak, with the team shelling out big money for right fielder Bryce Harper (13 years, $330 million) two years ago and right-hander Zack Wheeler (five years, $118 million) last winter.

The team also faces a decision on impending free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto, who could trigger a bidding war during the offseason.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected] Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

———

©2020 NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J.

Visit NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J. at www.nj.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.