Kim Ng won't return as Marlins GM

Some would call it a "shocking turn of events," but not me! Nope not I for like a psychic I seen it coming, and hoped the Marlins would part ways with her for sometime now as she's made way to many mistakes as GM in my opinion to keep her job even with the team making the playoffs, and getting humiliated and swept in the first round. This to me was the final straw and after all the blunders she had to go... I'm not speaking from any inside knowledge here but to me it was a mutual parting of ways once things got settled. As those who know me know I'm a sort of person who has been vocal about how badly she's been as GM for sometime so I'm very happy about this move.

Kim cost the team a ton of money that the team is on the hook for and this year they were supposed to improve which they did but again got swept in the first round. Now yes they faced the Phillies but due to her bad contracts the last two years I think it had a lot to play into this happening. There have been more mistakes than good things happening with her as GM. So finally the front office is going to see someone I hope is a legit GM who can help the team not over spend and build an actual winning culture here.

While yes the club did exercised its team option for her to return for the 2024 season, it was actually Kim herself who declined the option, Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman said. "We thank Kim for her contributions during her time with our organization and wish her and her family well." He followed that by saying that "We will immediately begin a thorough and extensive search for new leadership as we plan to continue to invest in the Marlins organization both on and off the field. We are committed to our fans and the South Florida community, and look to build off the momentum of the great progress of this year."


Kim was with the club since she was hired in November 2020, and became the first woman to serve as a GM for any major professional men's team in North American sports. She was hired due to the team wanting to be inclusive to someone who could check off some lists for the team, shes a woman and an Asian woman at that. Not for her merit or having experience doing the job in my opinion.

It was no easy task for her of course but as she had joined the organization with the fourth-worst record in the Majors since 2004 and was perennially near the basement of the National League East. She over spent and traded away someone who out pitched the entire Marlins pitching staff in Pablo Lopez. Yes they got Luis Arráez and he had a great season. But hitters like him can be great a couple of years than decline quick. While it was fun the first few months but Luis Arráez was nowhere to be found when it became time to show up. The playoffs.

While Lopez won his games and his Twins went to the second round which is where they finally lost. Not due to him he was great in his starts.

In three seasons with Ng at the helm, Miami went 220-266, making the postseason in 2023 for the first time since the pandemic-shortened '20 campaign. It also was the first time the Marlins clinched a full-season postseason spot in 20 years. But unlike the 2003 Marlins this one didn't go far.

While she said that "Last week Bruce and I discussed his plan to reshape the Baseball Operations department," Kim wrote in a statement to MLB.com. "In our discussions, it became apparent that we were not completely aligned on what that should look like, and I felt it best to step away. I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Marlins family and its fans for my time in South Florida." Which to me is code language for her to have an easy way out without looking like she got fired which would cost her jobs in MLB in the future perhaps?

Kim also said that “This year was a great step forward for the organization, and I will miss working with Skip [Schumaker] 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."

Some think that she will be a strong contender for Executive of the Year but if she does get it it's only because of her being the first woman GM. 

Among some of her moves that were the trade acquisitions of closer Tanner Scott, NL Wild Card Series Game 1 starter Jesús Luzardo, All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez, Jake Burger and Josh Bell. She also hired first-time manager and likely NL Manager of the Year finalist Schumaker last November. Skip was decent but not perfect or even good. He was just decent and also made a lot of rookie manager mistakes. The team made those moves under her which some worked out and some didn't.

Here are some that flopped hard! First abysmal Avisaíl García who was all her and he's been horrible and cost the team a four-year, $53 million contract with the Marlins in November of 2021.. His contribution so far 2 years in? He's been probably one of the worst free agent pick up in Marlins or MLB history!

With the RF Job being locked in by Bryan De La Cruz who had a wonderful year and proved that Garcia just wasn't needed. Also Jesus Sanchez had a very good year and with JAZZ in CF where is Garcia going to play next year? IF he even is here. While I say trade him with his contract he has ZERO trade value.

She also over spent on Jean Segura who also did nothing all year and was traded to the Guardians along with minor leaguer SS and recent draft pick Kahlil Watson. The Guardians cut ties with Segura in a matter of minutes as they saw how bad he was and never let him infest the club with his awful year. They made the move to get the SS prospect they wanted and to move Bell as they had a replacement in place for his bat. She also got David Robertson from The Mets who went to blow a bunch of saves and lost the closer job faster than anyone expected. Also for some odd reason the club wouldn't remove Joey Wendle as the SS even tho he had an awful season and also belongs DFA's! He's just not the answer at SS. A position which should have been the job of Jon Berti for the last 3 years IN MY OPINION!

How do you start Joey Wendle over Berti after Berti out classed him, hit him, and won the stolen base crown in 2022? He lost a lot of at bats to a terrible hitting SS in Joey Wendle. They failed to get help at catcher and held back Nick Fortes for another person who can't hit in Jacob Stallings. I mean mistakes by the ton here folks. So much that her leaving is the best thing possible. The team lost it's "ACE" pitcher for at least a year maybe 2 in Sandy Alcántara due to blowing out his arm in the first year of his "big contract" irnonic huh? They rushed 20 year old prospect Eury Perez and had to go with a make shift rotation which including starting games with bullpen pitchers. Eury who also got hurt and was not in the playoffs after a hot start.

 
For now Internal candidates for the GM job could include assistant general managers Brian Chattin, Daniel Greenlee and Oz Ocampo. I'd love to take the job myself and think I could do a better job personally. But whoever gets the job I do hope it's someone who knows baseball, and has been in the game sometime as an actual GM. Not a rookie trainee with no GM experience. Honestly she failed more than she succeeded and with the money spent it's not worth having her stick around in the GM role.

Whoever is the next GM I only wish it's someone with again actual GM experience that can help the club move forward and build an actual winning culture here. Something this franchise needs... While I think the ownership is good as it is the front office has always been a mess since the Jeffery Loria ownership and after.

Check out some of the videos below talking about this sudden move by her, and the Marlins.