Phillies Hoping to Poach Yankees' Brian Barber for Top Scouting Job
By Parker White
On top of searching for their next manager, the Philadelphia Phillies are on the look for a new scouting director after Johnny Almarez stepped down in early-September for personal reasons.
Philadelphia isn't looking to promote from within for this highly important scouting position. According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, the Phillies are offering their scouting director position to New York Yankees cross checker Brian Barber.
Phillies are offering their open scouting director job to Brian Barber, national cross checker of the Yankees. @JSalisburyNBCS 1st suggested BB was in line.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 19, 2019
Not only are the Phillies heavily linked to former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, but they might poach one of New York's national cross checkers. You wonder if the two are intertwined somehow and will dictate whether Girardi comes to Philadelphia?
The rumored #Phillies scouting director candidate recently worked with manager candidate Joe Girardi as members of the Yankees. https://t.co/azXR6D5ClH
— Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) October 19, 2019
Barber is considered one of the top amateur scouts around, so the addition of the former big league pitcher would be a huge addition for the Phillies, who are in desperate need of better internal talent.
And based on the Yankees track record of identifying and developing young talent, there might not be a man more suited to turn the tide in Philly.