Florida Marlins owner Bruce Sherman introduced his new president of baseball operations, Peter Bendix, at loanDepot Park last month, calling it “a wonderful day for Miami Marlins fans and a wonderful day for the Miami Marlins organization.”
Perhaps, but Sherman’s optimism is clouded by concerns his recent decisions could do the franchise more harm than good.
In less than two years, the Marlins front office has lost the services of two respected baseball minds, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter and general manager Kim Ng, due to conflicts with Sherman’s vision for the club. Bendix, 38, spent the previous 15 years in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, including in the role of general manager last year. Apparently, Bendix has “the secret sauce” – as Sherman put it – to get the Marlins back to the World Series. Now it’s up to Bendix, a Cleveland native, to prove why he was needed in the first place.
(George Willis for Biscayne Times)
Marlins owner Bruce Sherman explaining why it is important to hire a president of baseball operations.
Ng, the first female GM in baseball history, was a picture of success last October after assembling the franchise’s first 162-game playoff team in 20 years. She hit a home run by hiring Skip Schumaker to manage the Marlins, who ultimately reached the wild card series where they were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies. Schumaker was named the 2023 National League Manager of the Year in his first season.
Instead of rewarding Ng for her success, Sherman stunned by informing her of his intention to hire a president of baseball of operations, to whom she would report. Ng, 55 with 30 years of experience in baseball, declined and refused an extension of her contact.
“I was hoping Kim would stay,” Sherman said at Bendix’s introductory press conference. “I wish Kim nothing but the best. She’s a terrific lady. (It’s) not lost on me that we made the playoffs. And I think she’ll be just fine. We had hours and hours of conversation, Kim and I. She made the election not to continue. I respect that decision.”
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Kim Ng seen chatting with Marlins manager Skip Schumaker last season.
It's understandable Ng would feel slighted. It’s rare when a GM with her experience coming off an improbable playoff season is asked to take a subordinate role. her credentials are impeccable. She was the vice president and assistant GM of the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2001 before fulfilling the same role with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2001 to 2011. She’s been part of three World Series winning teams. Ng left the baseball front office to become MLB’s senior vice president for baseball operations from 2011 to 2020 before Jeter hired her as the GM of the Marlins.
(George Willis for Biscayne Times)
Peter Bendix, the Marlins new president of baseball operations, comes from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Jeter was part of the Sherman-led group that purchased the Marlins from Jeffrey Loria in 2017. The one-time captain of the pinstripes was named the chief executive officer, and the Marlins tasted success by making the postseason during the shortened COVID-19 2020 season. Jeter hired Ng in 2021 after knowing her during his time with the Yankees. The future of the Marlins looked to be in good hands.
But a clear sign of dysfunction came Feb. 28, 2022, when Jeter resigned his position and sold his 4% ownership in the club saying, “I just couldn’t move on if I didn’t agree with the direction that the organization was going.”
Jeter reportedly left due to Sherman’s frugal approach with the Marlins ranking 26th, 28th and 23rd in payroll over the last three seasons.
Ng still did her job. After suffering 93 losses in 2022, the Marlins made the playoffs this year with an 84-78 record under Schumaker. Despite ending in a sweep by the Phillies, the season was viewed as a foundation for future success. There was also a 30% increase in attendance in 2023 compared to 2022.
Now Ng is gone, unable to accept Sherman’s decision to bring in someone above her, someone who turned out to be 17 years her junior.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Marlins family and its fans for my time in South Florida,” Ng said upon her departure. “This year was a great step forward for the organization, and I will miss working with Skip and his coaches as well as all of the dedicated staff in baseball operations and throughout the front office. They are a very talented group and I wish them great success in the future.”
The pressure is on Sherman and Bendix to prove their partnership is a step forward and not unnecessarily meddling by ownership. The South Florida community has plenty of other options for its entertainment dollar. The Miami Dolphins are chasing a playoff spot in the NFL, the Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers reached the championship series of their respective NBA and NHL leagues, and Lionel Messi’s arrival has brought a global spotlight to the MLS’ Inter Miami CF.
Bendix, whose grandmother fostered his love of baseball by taking him to games in Cleveland, will have full authority, including the hiring of a new general manager to replace Ng.
“If you’re going to leave an excellent situation, it has to be a perfect fit and this is a perfect fit,” Bendix said inside Biscayne Bay Brew Hall in loanDepot Park.
If hiring Bendix doesn’t work, Sherman has no one to blame but himself.
“I’ve wanted a president of baseball operations for a long time,” Sherman said. “It’s a very complex job. It’s not just about the 26-man or 40-man roster. If you don’t get the international signings right, if you don’t get the amateur draft right, if you don’t get player development right, if you don’t get analytics right … it’s a very complex job.”
Sherman is hoping Bendix, the Rays GM since December 2021, can mimic the success Tampa Bay has enjoyed operating on a small payroll. The Rays won 99 games this past season and reached the AL Wild Card Series, where they lost to the eventual World Series Champion Texas Rangers. Sherman also believes the Marlins’ amateur draft must improve.
“We have to do better. You have to get the first- and second-round draft picks right,” he said.
Sherman must hope he got it right by hiring Bendix.
“Whatever secret sauce he has, hopefully he’ll bring it to this organization,” Sherman said.