The Marlins are bringing Jeff Conine back to the organization, according to Barry Jackson and Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. Conine will work as a special assistant to owner Bruce Sherman.
Conine, 56, had a 17-year MLB career as a player, with most of that time spent as a Marlin. He was actually an original member of the franchise, having been selected in the expansion draft in 1992. He stayed with the club through 1997, helping them win their first World Series title in the last year of that stretch. After some time with the Royals and Orioles, he came back to Miami in 2003, helping them win their second title, and stayed through 2005. He then bounced around for a few more seasons before signing a one-day contract with the Marlins in March of 2008 and then retired.
In his post-playing days, Conine has worked as a special assistant to the club but he departed the organization in 2017. When Jeffrey Loria sold the team to a group led by Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter, Conine and several other special assistants were fired but then confusingly approached by Jeter with new job offers. At that time, Conine turned down that offer and explained that he was offered a role with less responsibility than he previously held. It’s unknown exactly what kind of role he will be stepping into now but “Mr. Marlin” has nonetheless returned to the organization with which he’s synonymous. He will now have the same employer as his son Griffin Conine, who was traded from the Blue Jays to the Marlins in 2020.
Holy Cow!
That’ll show that Jeter to mess with Mr. Marlin.
sugoi51
Solid ballplayer, but only the second best athlete in his marriage.
NickGarren
Only a matter of time til Griffin makes the big leagues. He got some serious thump in that bat of his. I got to see him when he was with the Jays affiliate the Lansing Lugnuts. Very impressive. The ball explodes off his bat.
Mjm117
I’m rooting for Conine Jr but the dude K’s in almost half of his AB’s.
Doubt the Marlins protect him in the upcoming rule 5 draft
nottinghamforest13
Someone who won’t be pushed around by Kim Ng and will provide necessary accountability.
Chemo850
I dont think it will matter. This is without a doubt Kim’s final year. She has made some incredibly terrible moves. The moves she hasnt made have been just as bad. Not sure what she was thinking keeping Pablo, Aguilar and Cooper past the deadline. Cooper and Pablo’s value will never be that high again.
Big Smoke
This will be Kim Ng’s final year? God I hope you’re right
MarlinsFanBase
He very likely is right. Ng is on the hot seat to perform well this offseason. She was a lot of hit and miss the first year and a half, but everyone…I mean everyone (fans, SFL writers, etc.) has bashed her for failing to move multiple pieces that were at their peak or still decent value heading into the trade deadline (Aguilar, Cooper, Okert, Floro, Wendle, etc.). She must perform this offseason or she’s done in Miami.
utah cornelius
You’re right. She’s way worse than any white male GM ever was. Says a couple of white males.
SocoComfort
Why does race have anything to do with this? The dude legit gave a couple players as reasoning for his opinion. Why do you just assume their opinions are based on race? You have no clue what race these guys are anyway. Just making baseless assumptions.
Chemo850
I’m not white or a Male lmao. People complain just as much if not more about every other GM so you might wanna get used to it. Just because she’s a woman doesnt mean that we now are expected to lower the standards within the sports world.
MarlinsFanBase
@Chemo850
Don’t worry about that bonehead. All of us that actually pay attention to the Marlins or baseball as a whole, know that what you’ve said is on point because many of us Marlins fans have said it everywhere.
Everyone aware of the Marlins situation knows that if Kim Ng doesn’t come through this offseason, she better get a lucky season out of a lot of guys because calls for her head will start. Heck, if she shows up to Spring Training without a legit Closer and a stabilizing bat in the middle of the order, calls for her head will start.
After two straight seasons of the “maybe this guy can be a Closer” efforts that have resulted in so many wins handed to the opposing team by the bullpen, a legit Closer better be one of her first three player acquisitions this offseason. There will be no excuse.
Rsox
Welcome home Mr. Marlin, now if you could just teach them how to hit…
UKPhil
It’ll be good to see him around again. As a player, he would always deliver a solid at bat when the game was on the line. A good baseball man advising the owner is good for the organization and at times will help limit the pressure on the FO
Jacksson13
Initially the Marlins went after JEFF COEIGHTEEN, but his asking price was twice that of JEFF CONINE !!
MarlinsFanBase
You really need to stop getting your jokes from E!SPN, SNY, and FOX Sports. They seem to be outdated in their jokes about the Marlins. I’m thinking it has something to do with the location of the bulk of their HQ employees.
MarlinsFanBase
This is another nice offseason move for their leadership…or in Conine’s case, the representation of their leadership. Hopefully this is part of a larger olive branch that will eventually bring back Andre Dawson, Tony Perez and Jack McKeon. Hopefully it also leads to the long overdue addition of Mike Lowell.
Bring all of our guys back!
mt in baltimore
Find it peculiar that Kim Ng isn’t in the Frame on any of these announcements.
You know, the smart teams in MLB need dopey teams to prey upon. Seems the Marlins are doing their part.
MarlinsFanBase
Yeah, the Marlins being one of only a handful of teams with multiple championships over the last 25 years makes the point that you’re making.
As for Ng, it’s clear to everyone who follow the Marlins, she has to come through this offseason or she’ll be on her way out.
jp82
And at about the same time, they fired Glenn Geffner, this org never seems to get one thing right smh