Texas Rangers hire Skip Schumaker and Luis Urueta

[Kevin Barral]

Two key members of the 2023-24 Miami Marlins coaching staff are heading to the Lone Star State. Could Schumaker eventually replace Bruce Bochy as Rangers manager?

Former Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker has a new job. On Tuesday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News broke that Schumaker will join the Texas Rangers organization as a senior adviser to president of baseball operations Chris Young. Fish On First can confirm the report. The Rangers are also finalizing a deal with his former bench coach, Luis Urueta, who will fill the role previously held by Will Venable. The Chicago White Sox hired Venable last week to be their new manager.

This news comes just over a month after Schumaker officially parted ways with Miami. He played parts of 11 MLB seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds. He won the World Series with St. Louis in 2011, coincidentally defeating the Rangers to do it. Schumaker coached with the San Diego Padres and Cardinals before being hired by the Marlins two years ago.

In his rookie season as manager, Schumaker led the Marlins to a postseason berth, the first time since 2003 that the organization had made the playoffs in a full-length season. He was also named NL Manager of the Year. This year's team, however, was weakened by injuries and trades, finishing last in the NL East. Schumaker finished his Marlins tenure with a 146-178 record.

Before the 2024 season even began, Schumaker and the Marlins agreed to void the option on his contract for 2025. Immediately after the season ended, they released a joint statement that he was leaving.

The Marlins are the only MLB team that's currently without a manager. Venable and Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz were reportedly finalists for the vacancy, but Venable went to Chicago while Albernaz withdrew from consideration. Luis Urueta was among the candidates who interviewed earlier in the process. The White Sox and Baltimore Orioles were also interested in Urueta as a bench coach candidate before he reached an agreement with Texas, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

It is worth noting that Skip's son, Brody, graduates from high school in 2026 and is committed to continuing his baseball career at TCU, which is 30 minutes away from Globe Life Field, home of the Rangers.

Bruce Bochy managed the Rangers to their first World Series title in 2023. He finished with a 78-84 record in 2024. He's about to enter the final year of his deal. If the future Hall of Famer chooses to retire following the 2025 season (he turns 70 in April), Schumaker would make for the perfect replacement.

The Marlins will travel to Arlington to take on the Rangers from September 19-21. It is their third-to-last series of the season.

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[Leo Armbrister]

So many good players, managers and coaches have passed through the Marlins organization. There is no stability or continuity to build on. It's like musical chairs. We are the only team in baseball without a manager. While we have picked up some pretty good prospects with trades I wonder how many of these players will be with the team three years from now. Bendix was supposed to improve the situation. I am still waiting for tangible results.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Schumaker and Urueta are fine fellows, and I am happy for them.  Still, I am wont to be passive/aggressive and don't want to let anyone down who was expecting a "but" to follow my praise. So, here it is. I simply cannot believe ten teams didn't offer to fire their respective managers (a la the Cubs) to obtain Schumaker as manager. Isn't he the second coming? Lol. 

(Shhh! It's a crapshoot and no one knows!)