MLB Rumors: Will Venable, Craig Albernaz Finalists for Marlins Manager Job | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

The Miami Marlins have narrowed their search for a new manager to Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz and Texas Rangers associate manager Will Venable, according to MLB reporter Craig Mish.

“After several constructive discussions with Skip, (president of baseball operations) Peter (Bendix) and the owner, we have mutually agreed to part ways, and Skip will not return to lead the club next year,” said Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman. said in a statement at the time. “The Marlins will immediately begin the search for the next leader to serve as our new field manager.”

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Venables interviewed for the job on Monday and was also a finalist for the Chicago White Sox managerial vacancy.

Schumaker went 146-178 overall in two seasons with the Marlins, surprisingly leading them to the postseason in 2023 before they regressed in 2024 to an NL East-worst 62-100.

“It has been a tremendous honor to be the manager of the Miami Marlins,” Schumaker said after parting ways with the team. “I have built long-lasting friendships with the staff and players and am proud of all we have accomplished together. I am grateful to Bruce Sherman, as well as the entire Marlins organization and fans for their support during my time in Miami, and I will continue to always cherish the 2023 play-off season.”

Miami promptly did not renew the contracts of several coaches on Schumaker’s staff. That followed major changes to the front office in August.

As for the candidates to replace Schumaker, the 41-year-old Albernaz spent several years at the minor league level before being hired by the San Francisco Giants to serve as bullpen and catching coach in 2019. The Guardians hired him as the bench coach in 2023.

Venable, also 41, is a former MLB player who served as a special assistant to Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein in 2017, a first base coach for the team in the 2018-2019 seasons and third base coach in 2020.

Prior to the 2021 season, he was hired as Alex Cora’s bench coach for the Boston Red Sox, serving in the role for two years before being hired as associate manager in Texas under Bruce Bochy ahead of the 2023 campaign.