Phillies fire general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

The Philadelphia Phillies have fired general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. after seven seasons with the team.

The Philadelphia Phillies have fired general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. after seven seasons, the team announced Thursday. Assistant GM Scott Proefrock will take over immediately as the interim general manager while the team searches for a permanent replacement.

Amaro, 50, spent 10 seasons as the Phillies’ assistant GM before being hired to replace Pat Gillick after the 2008 season. He also played eight seasons in the majors as an outfielder, including five with Philadelphia.

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The Phillies won the World Series in Amaro’s first season with the team and finished first the NL East in each of the next two years, but will miss the playoffs this season for the fourth consecutive year after being mathematically eliminated on Wednesday. The Phillies have not finished above .500 since they won 102 games in 2011 and currently have the worst record in the majors at 54–86.

In addition to the World Series title, Amaro’s tenure will most likely be remembered for the five-year, $125 million contract he gave to first baseman Ryan Howard in 2010. Howard, who turns 36 this off-season, is owed $25 million next year and will be owed a $10 million buyout in 2017. He is batting .228 with a .711 OPS this season.

- Dan Gartland