For months, the presumption across baseball has been that the Phillies are poised to spend money — big, big money — this winter to acquire the generational superstar who will bridge the chasm between rebuilding and serious World Series contention.
John Middleton did not respond to multiple interview requests since before the all-star break. He's reputed to be as obsessed with winning as late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner ever was. But other than team president Andy MacPhail's recent characterization — "He's been a little crabby to be around lately," MacPhail said last month — the Phillies' billionaire general partner hadn't been heard from on anything from the late-season collapse to the pursuits of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.