Almost a year into Peter Bendix’s tenure as president of baseball operations, the Miami Marlins have taken a no-nonsense approach, cutting costs, trading core players, and wiping the slate clean by parting with the manager, coaching staff, and over 70 other employees. Bendix, brought in to fulfill owner Bruce Sherman’s long-term vision, has steered the team away from short-term performance, focusing on a future rebuild at the cost of the current roster and fan goodwill.
The overhaul has been relentless. Bendix’s first big move was to trade All-Star Luis Arráez in May, marking the start of a fire sale that saw the exit of Jazz Chisholm Jr., A.J. Puk, Trevor Rogers, and several others. The Marlins stumbled to a 62-100 season in 2024, but the moves fit a clear strategy: slash payroll (down to $39.75 million for 2025) and accumulate young assets.
These moves have rankled fans, especially after the team’s 2023 playoff appearance—a flash that couldn’t hide the club’s underlying weaknesses, like their -57 run differential and dependency on close wins. Former general manager Kim Ng opted out after Sherman sought new leadership above her, signaling her disagreement with the club’s course. Manager Skip Schumaker, also unhappy with the direction, negotiated an early exit.
The Marlins are now laser-focused on a rebuild, trading away talent for long-term potential and allowing few short-term commitments. As they head into the offseason, any player with trade value could be on the market, part of a scorched-earth strategy that the team hopes will ultimately yield a new competitive core. The result? A painfully complete reset, and a shockingly committed teardown for fans, but one that shows the Marlins are in it for the long haul.
