Skip Schumaker, who has long been expected to be the most sought after manager in the big leagues this winter, informed Miami Marlins players after their 15-5 victory on Friday night in Toronto that he would not be returning for 2025, according to multiple published reports. A day later, the Marlins announced that Schumaker would not manage the final two games of the season, having left the club to be home in California to tend to a family health issue.
Schumaker’s departure sets up what should be an intriguing winter for the highly-regarded Schumaker, and any team in the market for a new manager. Both the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox, new owners of modern baseball’s worst single-season record, have managerial openings. But as The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported, the full picture is still shaking out and other openings could be looming.
Schumaker, 44, piloted the Marlins to a surprise playoff appearance in 2023 and secured the NL manager of the year award. He earned effusive praise after his first season, especially from his players, many who credited him for changing their clubhouse culture.
“He gave us the confidence to change our whole mentality,” said Sandy Alcantara, who missed the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. “What Skip did last year was a lot different than the many years I’ve been here. Everything changed, the culture, the environment in the locker room. We were more together.”
Added former Marlins Luis Arraez: “When you have a manager like him, you’re going to play happy. He communicates with everybody. He’s the man. That’s why he’s the manager of the year.”
But the club followed that success with turnover in the front office and a brutal start to 2024. Less than six weeks into the regular season, the spiraling Marlins traded Arraez to the San Diego Padres, kickstarting the transition to a lengthy rebuild period under Peter Bendix, who replaced Kim Ng as the club’s top decision maker in baseball operations.
What also became obvious was that Schumaker would not be returning to the Marlins. Both parties voided Schumaker’s option for 2025 in April, an obvious indication that Schumaker would explore other possibilities once the 2024 season ended. The team announced that bench coach Luis Urueta will be the acting manager for the Marlins’ remaining two games.
Schumaker has notable ties with at least two teams seeking a new manager. The former outfielder and second baseman spent the final two seasons of his playing career with the Reds. He played his first seven seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, primarily under then-manager Tony La Russa. La Russa, whom Schumaker credits as one of his biggest influences, is a special advisor for the White Sox and remains active within the organization.
Schumaker’s decision to leave, first reported by ESPN, brings another layer of intrigue to the offseason. Just as Craig Counsell was last winter when he left the Milwaukee Brewers for the Chicago Cubs, Schumaker is set to enter the free agent market for managers as the most sought-after target.
— The Athletic’s Katie Woo and Dennis Lin contributed to this report.
(Skip Schumaker, former Marlins manager: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
