Dan Jennings’ tenure as manager of the Miami Marlins lasted just four months, as the team will not bring back the first-year skipper in 2016.
Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported that Jennings would not return as manager.
However, per Spencer, Jennings’ tenure with the organization may not be over, as Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill would like the 55-year-old to move back to his original post as general manager.
Jennings took over the Marlins in May after Mike Redmond was fired. He proceeded to lead the team to a 55-69 record over the final 124 games, as the Marlins finished 2015 with a 71-91 overall mark.
It’s been clear the Marlins were going to make a managerial change for some time. They talked to Manny Acta on Sept. 22, according to ESPNdeportes.com’s Enrique Rojas, and Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reported Dusty Baker is a “very strong candidate.”
Going back further, a separate report from Spencer in early September noted that Miami officials were going to ask Jennings to leave his post as manager:
Sources said the relationship between Jennings and Loria has become increasingly strained over the course of the team’s disappointing season. Jennings could return to the front office, but not necessarily as general manager.
Jennings has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Seattle Mariners’ GM vacancy, though the Mariners have not yet asked permission from the Marlins to speak with him.
Jennings had served as general manager for the Marlins since the end of the 2013 season, leading the charge for several key moves over the past two years, including Giancarlo Stanton’s record extension.
As the season wore on with the Marlins continuing to fall further and further below .500, Jennings told Spencer there were a lot of reasons why things fell apart: “There’s enough blame to go around here. There’s been so many things that these guys have had to endure this year, injuries being a part of it, underperforming before a part of it. They’ve endured a managerial change. Is there something that you can directly point to? No.”
The Marlins have become one of the most dysfunctional franchises in sports. Owner Jeffrey Loria has burned his share of bridges, but the next manager in Miami is hardly inheriting an empty ship.
When Stanton is healthy, he’s one of the best power hitters in baseball. Dee Gordon was one of the biggest surprises this season, hitting .333 and stealing 58 bases. Christian Yelich is an excellent hitter who got on base at a .366 mark this season. Starting pitcher Jose Fernandez looked terrific after returning from Tommy John surgery.
Being able to work with that nucleus will certainly be enticing for any managerial candidate, though being able to have full support from the owner and general manager will be the big challenge in Miami. There’s talent to work with, but the Marlins have to supplement it in the right ways.
Jennings, who had no previous managerial experience, was unable to handle the in-game portion of managing. The Marlins were able to recognize that and made a needed change to hopefully avoid another messy situation in 2016.
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