On Sunday, the Miami Marlins announced that manager Skip Schumaker will not be returning next season, a decision that was no surprise. Early in the season, rumors circulated about his potential exit due to conflicts with the front office. His departure comes after a very disappointing season for the Marlins. They finished with over 100 losses, a feat they’ve only accomplished four times in their franchise’s 31-year history. Schumaker joins a long list of losses for the Marlins, including key players like Luis Arráez, Tanner Scott, Josh Bell, and many more. The 2023 National League Manager of the Year will be highly sought after in the market this offseason. As for the Marlins, they have a manager position to fill in, so who could possibly replace Schumaker?
Today, the Miami Marlins and Skip Schumaker announced that Schumaker would not be back to manage the Club in 2025. pic.twitter.com/dXFqp7oIOd
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 30, 2024
Potential External Options To Take Over as Marlins Manager
Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly is no stranger to the Marlins. He spent seven seasons managing the team, including guiding them to their first postseason since 2003. This feat earned him Manager of the Year honors in 2020. While his overall record with Miami was 443-587, his impact went beyond the numbers. After leaving in 2022, he’s spent the last two seasons as the Toronto Blue Jays bench coach.
Mattingly has extensive experience and has spent a total of 12 years managing, and before this, he played for another 14 seasons. Mattingly could be a great fit for the predominantly young Marlins. His track record has shown he has a knack for developing young talent. Players like Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, and J.T. Realmuto thrived under his leadership. With the Marlins in a rebuild, bringing back a familiar face like Mattingly could be just what the team needs to grow and develop its young core.
David Ross
The former Chicago Cubs manager could be another fit for the young Marlins teams. David Ross served as the Cubs manager from 2020-2023 but was dismissed to hire Craig Counsell. Ross led his team to a postseason berth in 2020. He finished his stint with the Cubs with a 262-284 record. Despite not having much managing experience, he still looks like a good option and is similar to Schumaker.
Scott Servais
Scott Servais was the Seattle Mariners manager for the past nine seasons before being dismissed in August. His dismissal came after having a disappointing middle of the season. Despite this, Servais has a total record of 680-642 making him the second-winningest manager in team history behind Lou Piniella. In 2022, he would lead the Mariners to their first postseason berth since 2001. Servais has lots of experience and could be an excellent choice for the Marlins.
Internal Options
Luis Urueta
Marlins’ current bench coach Luis Urueta could very well fill in Schumaker’s shoes. While it seems unlikely the Marlins will hire from the inside, Urueta could be a good fit. He began his coaching career in 2007, taking on a variety of roles. Before joining the Marlins, he spent five seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks and has been a bench coach for two seasons in Miami. Urueta does have some managing experience from managing Team Colombia in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and managing Dominican teams during the Winter League. Given his lack of managerial experience, Uruteta may not be the ideal option, but he remains an available choice if the Marlins are unable to find anyone else.
Photo Credit: © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
