David Montgomery had a front row seat and first-hand involvement in the last Phillies rebuild. He began an 18-year run as team president in 1997 as the franchise was moving on from the core of the 1993 National League championship team and starting to grow the nucleus of the club that eventually won five division titles and a World Series from 2007 to 2011.
The Phillies began another rebuild in 2014, the year Montgomery became chairman of the club, leaving the duties of president to Pat Gillick and ultimately Andy MacPhail.
Montgomery, who always made sure the Phillies were giants when it came to charitable causes in the city and surrounding area, was honored Monday night at the 112th annual Philadelphia Sports Writers Association banquet in Cherry Hill. He received the prestigious Ed Snider Lifetime Distinguished Humanitarian Award, named for the Flyers founder and owner.
“It’s special,” said Montgomery, who started with the Phillies in 1971. “And it’s special that it’s named after Ed. His passion for his team and his sport is something special. He’s a great sportsman and I’m delighted to receive an honor in his name.”
Before the dinner, Montgomery shared some thoughts on the latest Phillies rebuild, which is being overseen by MacPhail and new general manager Matt Klentak.
Klentak put his mark on things by trading closer Ken Giles and minor-league shortstop Jonathan Arauz to Houston for five starting pitchers in December. Two of those pitchers, Vincent Velasquez and Brett Oberholtzer, should help the big club immediately while Mark Appel could come later in the year (see prospect update).
Montgomery likes the deal.
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“I think (Matt’s) decision to trade Kenny was the right one based on where we are,” Montgomery said. “Right now we’re acquiring young talent. Some will surprise us and some will disappoint when we get down (to spring training). The good news is we have enough young talent that I think we’ll have some pleasant surprises. I’ve said it before — I look forward not only to see how the people who came along well last year do, whether it’s Maikel Franco, or Aaron Nola, or Odubel Herrera and what kind of years they have, but in addition it’s going to be fun to watch what goes on down below them this year, how quickly do the J.P. Crawfords and Nick Williamses and those guys come along. It’ll be really interesting this year.”
Crawford was the Phillies’ first-round draft pick in 2013, a shortstop who might be just a year away from full-time duty in Philadelphia.
Williams is a gifted hitter who also might be just a year away. He was one of a handful of prospects acquired by former general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. from Texas for Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman in July. The Phils also added pitching prospect Jake Thompson and catching prospect Jorge Alfaro in the deal. Another pitcher, Jerad Eickhoff, made it to the majors last year and is penciled into the season-opening rotation.
Montgomery admitted it was a little “weird” to watch Hamels, a hero of the 2008 World Series title, pitching in the playoffs in October in a different uniform, but he acknowledged that dealing the lefty for prospects was a good baseball move.
"It was the right thing," he said. "I’m pleased. I think Ruben in his work with the deal for Cole did very well.”
It’s impossible to put an accurate timetable on when the Phillies will contend again, but Montgomery believes the club is trending in the right direction.
“I think we’re in great hands,” he said of the club’s new leadership. “I think we’re going to have a very interesting 2016. And I think with the work that we’re doing the future will turn pretty quickly.”