MLB Rumors: Will Venable, Craig Albernaz Finalists for Marlins Manager Job

The Miami Marlins have narrowed down 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.

The Marlins and former manager Skip Schumaker agreed to part ways in late September.

"After several constructive conversations with Skip, [president of baseball operations] Peter [Bendix] and ownership, we have mutually agreed to part ways, and Skip will not be returning to manage the club next year," Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman said in a statement at the time. "The Marlins will immediately begin the process of searching for the next leader to serve as our new field manager."

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

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

"It has been a tremendous honor serving as manager of the Miami Marlins," Schumaker said after parting ways with the team. "I've built long-lasting friendships with the staff and players and am proud of all that we accomplished together. I am grateful to Bruce Sherman, as well as the entire Marlins organization and the fans for their support during my time in Miami, and I'll always cherish our 2023 playoff season."

Miami promptly didn't renew the contracts of a number of the coaches on Schumaker's staff. That followed sweeping changes to the front office in August.

As for the candidates to replace Schumaker, the 41-year-old Albernaz spent a number of years at the minor league level before being hired by the San Francisco Giants to serve as the 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 2018-19 seasons and the third base coach in 2020.

Ahead of 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 to serve as the associate manager in Texas under Bruce Bochy ahead of the 2023 campaign.