PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joe Girardi is the first major league manager to be dismissed this season.
Girardi is out after two-plus seasons with the Phillies, where he was 132-141. The Phillies had been expected to contend for an NL East title, but they were 22-29 and 12 games behind the first-place New York Mets at the time of Girardi’s dismissal.
The team says bench coach Rob Thomson will serve as interim manager for the rest of the season.
In other MLB news:
— The Reds have activated veteran left-hander Mike Minor after an extended stay on the injured list and a rehabilitation assignment in the minor league. Minor started the season on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder strain.
— The struggling Minnesota Twins have arrived in Toronto without regular right fielder Max Kepler and relief pitchers Emilio Pagán, Caleb Thielbar and Trevor Megill. The four players are on the restricted list to comply with the Canadian government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
— Josh Donaldson was activated from the 10-day injured list and in the lineup for the Yankees for the first time since being suspended by Major League Baseball for a remark to White Sox star Tim Anderson. Donaldson has been out of the lineup due to COVID-19 and right shoulder inflammation.
