Ed Wade Fired

Speculation became fact Monday afternoon when the Phillies announced the dismissal of general manager Ed Wade. The move could mean dramatic changes for the Phillies organization that has not made the post-season since 1993.

Calling it "a very difficult decision", Phillies' managing general partner David Montgomery announced the firing of GM Ed Wade Monday.

"No one works harder than Ed, and he has served this organization extraordinarily well," said Montgomery.

With the dismissal of Chuck LaMar by Tampa Bay last week, Wade inherited the title of the GM with the longest tenure on the job without a playoff appearance. Wade took over for Lee Thomas, who was dismissed in December of 1997. Originally, Wade served in an interim position before taking over full-time the following March.

There was no immediate announcement of a replacement, but speculation centers on assistant GMs Mike Arbuckle and Ruben Amaro, Jr. as well as possibly former GM Dallas Green. Candidates from outside of the organization would include former Astros' GM Jerry Hunsicker and possibly current Yankees and Red Sox GMs Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein, respectively. Both Cashman and Epstein have contracts that expire at the end of the month.