Phillies hire Ed Wade (again)
Ed Wade is back.
Phillies hire Ed Wade (again)
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Ed Wade is back.
The Phillies have hired their former general manager as a special consultant, the team announced Tuesday. Wade will scout at the major- and minor-league levels and assist in salary arbitration.
Wade, 55, was fired as Houston GM this winter. He still had two years remaining on his deal with the Astros.
Often the brunt of criticism, Wade actually built the foundation that is the current Phillies before he was fired in 2005. While GM, his staff drafted Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers.
While with Houston, Wade often dealt with Ruben Amaro Jr., a close friend professionally and personally. (Wade is godfather to one of Amaro's daughters.) The Phillies acquired Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence in three separate deals with Houston. Currently, four of Houston's top six prospects, as ranked by Baseball America, are former Phillies.
Because of those deals, fans jokingly referred to Wade as a double-agent.
"That certainly will be insinuated," Wade told the Houston Chronicle. "I'm prepared for the remarks that I only traded with the Phillies so Ruben would give me a job if I got fired."
The last trade looks particularly favorable to Houston, as Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart are ranked first and second in the Astros system. Domingo Santana is sixth. Those three players were dealt for Hunter Pence last July.
From The Inquirer archives: Former GM Wade set Phils in motion (March 29, 2010)
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
- How many sellouts in a row do the Phillies have?
— mwcnabb - News Flash: the Eagles have hired Rich Kotite as offensive coordinator.— Tyrone Biggums
- Surtprise he was not fired sooner....we should pay houston to keep him as he always benefited us in trades....
— nuggett - Glad the Phils brought him back in this capacity. Wade's ability to recognize young talent is part of the reason this team has done so well in recent years. I like him in this role.— Timmy
- Timmy, your comment is the only positive one I see. I hope the rest of these fans stay home next season (or go become Met's fans). Too many negative comments for a sold out stadium. STAY HOME PEOPLE. See you at the game Timmy. — weedman
- @ jtj06: why is loyalty seen as such a bad thing? I find it refreshing in today's cold, cash only MLB style of business.— Timmy
- Loyalty is OK in the pursuit of excellence but, a quote from the article (its still on line): Montgomery, "I just believe the organization needs an image that's not directly tied to wins and losses." "The attitude, winning would be nice, has infected the organization for decades." So instead of hiring a real GM, you go with the former intern, Wade and stick with him year after futile year because he's one of the club members. When they finally ditch him, it's not too long until he's replaced with the former bat boy rather than a real GM. Contracts are dolled out to friends, not top players. Mayberry is on the Phillies because he went to Stanford and his dad was a player like Amaro. And just like the Phillies gave Amaro a shot to play every day at age 27 because he's in the club, Mayberry is getting his shot (though it looks like he may actually do something). The point is, the championship was a fluke. This organization hasn't changed since the ownership group took over decades ago. Winning is nice if it happens, but the ownership group's view of the team is not tied to wins and losses. It's just a good old boy's club. Fun when they are winning, something to do when they are losing. And when they are making money they aren't afraid to spend it-- not on the best players, but the guys who are connected get extra years and extra dollars because their our guys. Even if they are 46 years old! — jtj06
- For the Reader's Digest version of Phillies as social club: Chris Wheeler. — jtj06
- Sweet! I hope he tacks a few more years onto that awesome Lieberthal deal.— charles_j
- I really wish people would stop giving him credit for drafting this core. Mike arbuckle and Marti Wolover were the one's that ran those drafts and were able to get the guys they did on the shoestring draft budget Wade and this ownership gave them.— Ed Gein
- What a shame. He was doing a great job for the Phillies in Houston.— eldiablodelsol2009
- Wade wasnt a bad gm when he was with the phils back then the phils werent kicking out big salaries like they are now he can just young talent— teebone40
- I admire the Phils for helping out a guy down on his luck, but I was hoping Eddie landed with another organization. Oh well, there goes Amaro's ability to make those great one-sided deals in July!— topwonk
- Just don't let that oaf get involved with trades!— erniebanks14
- He is a jinx, bad idea.— Lerze777
