Phillies lure Dombrowski back into the game

Dave Dombrowski wants to win again sooner rather than later.

The longtime executive moved to Nashville, Tenn., in September as a consultant for Music City Baseball but found out this week that expansion won’t be entertained for more than a year at least. So he finalized a deal Friday to become the Philadelphia Phillies’ president of baseball operations, convinced the team is not far from its first World Series title since 2008.

“I consider a retool, not a rebuild for sure,” Dombrowski said. “There’s too many good players on the club.”

He cited right fielder Bryce Harper, starting pitchers Aaron Nola, Zach Wheeler and Zach Eflin, manager Joe Girardi and managing partner John Middleton as cause of hope.

“I know John wants to win. We have flexibility of finances,” Dombrowski said. “But when I say that, I don’t think it’s unlimited amount of funds. You always realize there’s some type of budget attached to that. We will work within that. But we’re also more, we want to win this year.”

Recognizable for his silver hair and ever-present smile, Dombrowski led teams to division titles in seven of the last nine seasons. He became Boston’s president of baseball operations in August 2015 and celebrated in 2018 when the Red Sox set a club record with 108 wins and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series for their fourth title in 15 seasons.

He was fired in September 2019 with a 76-67 record. His salary ran through October 2020, and he spurned interviews with several clubs that reached out this fall.

Phillies president Andy MacPhail called again Saturday, and Dombrowski said he was told of the nebulous expansion timetable by MLB on Monday and Tuesday.

Dombrowski, 64, spoke with Middleton for an hour on Tuesday, then again on Wednesday.

“It was John reaching out and really trying to make me part of the Phillies organization,” Dombrowski said. “I feel very comfortable with him. I’ve known him throughout the years. He has a great reputation. I think he’s a great owner. Wants to win.”

Philadelphia finished third in the NL East, losing seven of its last eight and winding up one game back for the NL’s second wild card. The Phillies missed the post-season for the ninth year in a row, and Matt Klentak was reassigned after five seasons as general manager.