Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that Cardinals bench coach Skip Schumaker interviewed with the Miami Marlins to replace Don Mattingly, who mutually agreed to part ways with the club following the 2022 season, as manager. Morosi writes that Schumaker is among the favorites to land the position. Prior to joining the coaching staff in St. Louis, Schumaker also served as the Padres first base coach in 2018 and 2019 before being promoted to associate manager 2020. Schumaker played in the majors for 11 seasons before becoming a coach, splitting his playing career between the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Reds and slashing a career .278/.337/.364.
The Marlins appear to be looking for a rookie manager with some previous dugout experience to replace the veteran Mattingly, as they’ve reportedly interviewed Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro, and Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol in addition to Schumaker. Espada and Quatraro have both reportedly received second interviews, and stand out as possible favorites for the job alongside Schumaker. While Espada and Grifol have both reportedly interviewed for other open positions, Schumaker’s interview with Miami is the only such interview that has been reported. The Athletic’s Katie Woo notes that Schumaker has a mutual option with the Cardinals for the 2023 season, and another for 2024.
While Schumaker doesn’t appear to be interviewing for other managerial openings this offseason, that’s not to say this is the first time a club has had interest in him for the manager’s seat. Schumaker has been fielding interviews for a managerial role since 2019, when the Mets interviewed him for their open manager position following that season. Schumaker also interviewed with the Red Sox after the 2020 season and the Cardinals following the 2021 season (before being hired as bench coach) for their managerial vacancies. While those vacancies all ultimately went to other candidates, there’s clear interest around the league in what Schumaker could bring to the table as a manager.
2022 was a tough season in Miami. While the young pitching the Marlins have become known for largely delivered, highlighted by Sandy Alcantara’s Cy Young caliber campaign, nearly the entire starting lineup under performed; only first baseman Garrett Cooper (113 OPS+) and outfielder Bryan De La Cruz (103 OPS+) posted an above average offensive season in 2022 among Marlins qualifiers. A full season from second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. in 2023 would surely help improve Miami’s struggling offense, but with both Jorge Soler and Avisail Garcia having turned in concerning seasons to open their multi-year contracts with the organization, it will take further internal improvement for Miami to compete next season without significant offensive additions.
Skip will be the next manager of the marlins
Why would anyone take that job? Not competing any time soon and one of sports worst owners along with the Cards Bidwell in NFL
Miami is not that bad… not far removed from a 2020 wild card series win? Defeating the Chicago Cubs then getting swept in the DS at the hands of the Braves. Still to beat the Chicago Cubs core that won a world series in 2016 is pretty damn good? Like the Padres beating the Mets this year? They’ve got a starting rotation managers dream about (when healthy). They might not have the position players to fill out a contender here in the next year, but they got the rotation to build a contender around, the type of one if they can get team friendly deals on lasts for 5 years. With the right moves, trades, signings, drafting Miami could be a NL east contender here within the next 2-5 years
You must be ignorant if you don’t know the amount of talent the Marlins have. Their pitching is insane when healthy, as is their running game. Problem is they invest too much in player development and not enough in the free agent market and veterans. I wouldn’t put it by them to go all in one of these years. They are close to competing if healthy and probably only a couple needs away.
I don’t think Mattingly was a good fit either. Never cared for the guy as a manager.
Eventually, someone is going to hire Schumacher, and I think they’ll be happy they did. He’s going to give you a nice blend of old school intensity along with exposure/familiarity to modern analytics. He doesn’t have the playing resume Mattingly had, but today’s players wouldn’t be that familiar with either one anyway.
Donnie Baseball is a pro, he’ll hook up somewhere and make an impression.
Mattingly is and always was a pro. I think that might be part of the disconnect with his players. He played on the biggest stage at a young age and never appeared distracted or overwhelmed. Expecting that kind of composure from modern players may be unrealistic.
Skip could take this but I wish he would hold out for a better opportunity. The Marlins have some good young pieces, however, the Marlins have a similar problem with money, attendance, and ultimately financial roster attrition that afflicts most of the smaller market teams.
I hope Skip comes back to STL for one more season. I could understand if he takes the job in Miami to get his foot in the door as a big league manager
Skip would make a fine choice but the Marlins will NOT be hiring a white guy.
Was he just a token interview perhaps?
That’s not racist
I hope Skip is the Cardinals’ manager some day!
I hope the Rally Squirrel is
This guy brings it.
But Skip, low hanging fruit. Be more patient. Taking the Marlins job is like buying My Space. Something much better will come your way.
he should be interviewing for the cardinals job instead
That’s a five-star baseball name.
No disrespect to Shumaker, but for the love of baseball, PLEASE someone make Ron Washington their manager. The fact that he’s still relegated to base coach duties is beyond me.
The team is looking for someone who won’t stand up to Kim Ng and her reign of incompetence. A more experienced manager would have the clout to push back on her nonsense and expose the organization’s decision to keep her in power in order to save face.
Yeah, because a divided organization isn’t a complete disaster in the field! (See Anaheim since Mike Trout made his debut). The Marlins problem is that they’re trying to win without spending any kind of money on the team. The owners are cheap, and figure they can make just enough profit even though they’re finishing 4th or last every year.