The Miami Marlins have hired Clayton McCullough to be their new skipper succeeding Skip Schumaker who resigned after two seasons in the dugout.
McCullough, who turns 45 next month, has spent the past 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers earning a World Series ring as the team's first base coach, a role he had been in since 2021. Prior to 2021, McCullough served as the organization's minor league field coordinator. From 2006 to 2014, McCullough managed in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization. Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2002, he spent four seasons as a minor league catcher.
The new skipper will have his work cut for him. McCullough goes from a World Series champion to a team that lost 100 games this past season. While I'm sure he doesn't expect to win right away in Miami, there will be a big adjustment to make.
What's not clear is the terms of McCullough's contract? How long is his leash? Or in the case of the Marlins, the hook?
It is worth noting that McCullough was not the Marlins' first choice. The team was set to offer the position to Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz who abruptly withdrew his name from consideration opting to remain in Cleveland. Albernaz had a working relationship with both Peter Bendix, President of Baseball Operations and Assistant GM Gabe Kapler with the Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants, respectively, but clearly saw some red flags. Did those red flags come in the form of Marlins' owner Bruce Sherman who has overseen the departure of both Derek Jeter and Kim Ng. How long will it be before Bendix and Kapler are pushed out the door?
But perhaps McCullough is willing to take a risk with the Marlins because who knows if he gets another chance to manage in the big leagues. Albernaz might have calculated that something else will come his way. McCullough may have decided not to take that chance and jump in the shark infested waters which contain the Miami Marlins.
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