The Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Joe Girardi after their disappointing start to the 2022 MLB season. The 22-29 Phillies have often looked lifeless and have found ways to beat themselves, with management placing blame for the rough start on the manager. Some family members of Phillies players seemed to question the team's culture and “lack of fun” they were having- something that was definitely heard by the front office.

The Phillies have announced that bench coach Rob Thomson will be the interim manager. Thomson, however, has never managed an MLB game before, which is not ideal for a team with championship aspirations. While the Phillies are unlikely to make another midseason change at manager, it's even more unlikely that Thomson sticks at the position.

Given the Phillies' payroll and talented roster, they are going to want an experienced hand at the wheel. Luckily for the Phillies, there just so happen to be some experienced candidates available. No one knows for sure who the Phillies would zero in on in a managerial search, so these names are merely speculation.

That said, here are the three best replacements for Joe Girardi as Phillies manager.

3 Best Replacements For Phillies After Joe Girardi Firing

3. Rob Thomson

It's unlikely that Thomson sticks, but what if the Phillies respond to his leadership? He was well-liked with the Yankees, with Thomson himself believing that one of his strengths is his ability to earn the trust of his players.

For a team that seemingly lost faith in Girardi, that could be a desirable trait by both the players and management. It's also interesting that the club chose Thomson, who has been tied at the hip to Girardi in his coaching career, to be the interim manager after they fired Girardi.

In many ways, Thomson is the opposite of Girardi. The former Yankees skipper was rumored to have had difficulty connecting with players, something Thomson has said that he has never had problems with.

They must see something in the 58-year-old, who is a self-proclaimed strong communicator. If the Phillies respond to Thomson's coaching, he might just earn himself the job long-term. It isn't the most likely scenario at this point. Crazier things have happened, though.

2. Matt Quatraro

Matt Quatraro, the current bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, has never been a manager at the MLB level. However, he certainly has an impressive enough resume. Quatraro has spent 24 seasons at the MLB level, 16 of them in a coaching capacity.

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He has interviewed for managerial jobs with the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics in past years. The 48-year-old Quatraro has been lauded for his baseball intelligence and his ability to connect with players, something that could make him an attractive candidate for Philadelphia.

While there have been some question marks about Quatraro's ability to handle the media, there's no doubt that his serious demeanor, knowledge of the game and connection to Rays manager Kevin Cash will at least catch the attention of the Phillies.

Hiring Quatraro would be a leap of faith for the Phillies. However, he has the potential to be one of the next great managers in the big leagues, if given the chance.

1. Bruce Bochy

This would be a huge win for the Phillies. If they can coax Bruce Bochy, a three-time World Series winner with the San Francisco Giants, out of retirement, much like the New York Mets did with Buck Showalter.

Bochy, 67, was named as a possible candidate for the San Diego Padres job in 2021. The veteran manager also didn't rule out a return to managing at some point. Bochy said in a 2021 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle that “you can't rule anything out.”

The former Giants manager, who stepped away from the dugout due to heart problems, is now healthy, as well as vaccinated against the coronavirus, two very important factors in a potential return.

Bochy, who was lauded for his handling of the Giants' pitching staff and bullpen, would be a welcome sight in the Philadelphia dugout.

Girardi was often questioned for bullpen decisions, though there would be no such issues with Bochy. While his Giants teams tailed off towards the end of his tenure, there's no doubt that Bochy knows what it takes to steer a team to a title. If the Phillies want an experienced name, there's no one better than Bochy.