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Miami Marlins news: Reactions to firing of Larry Beinfest

The Marlins announced the dismissal of President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest on Friday afternoon. Here are some reactions from around the league.

By Scott Gelman

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Marc Serota

Just hours after a report discussed the fact that the Marlins are aiming to build around and not trade right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, Miami announced the firing of president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest.

Speculation about a possible change in the front office was reported frequently last offseason when owner Jeffrey Loria made it clear that he may not have wanted to move forward with Beinfest and General Manager Mike Hill. Loria ultimately decided to give Beinfest another year.

Dan Jennings is expected to replace Beinfest as the season comes to an end. Jennings reportedly has a good relationship with Loria, who would veto transactions that Beinfest proposed.

The move is easy to blame on the lack of success, however firing Beinfest makes it even easier for Loria to make direct baseball decisions without any objections.

Here are some responses to the move:

-Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria fires longtime GM/president Larry Beinfest | HardballTalk

Beinfest is generally well-respected throughout baseball and so getting out from under a meddling owner with a slashed payroll and talent-starved roster may actually come as a relief. He was nearly fired last year, but kept the job, hired Mike Redmond as manager, and saw the Marlins go 59-100. He’ll no doubt get another high-ranking front office job for next season and will also get to spend his free time feeling sorry for the poor schlub who replaces him in Miami. It sounds like it’ll be longtime assistant general manager Dan Jennings, which keeps Loria from having to convince decent outside candidates to apply for a job working for him.

-Marlins exec Larry Beinfest fired by owner Jeffrey Loria

Beinfest, 49, was Montreal Expos interim general manager under Loria, and joined the owner upon taking control of the Florida Marlins in February 2002. Beinfest was general manager when the Marlins won the 2003 World Series by shocking the New York Yankees in six games. He was promoted to president/baseball operations on Sept. 29, 2007, when Mike Hill became general manager. Miami posted five winning seasons in Beinfest's 12 years with the team. The Marlins were 59-100 -- a fourth-straight losing season -- heading into the season's final series this weekend against the Detroit Tigers.

-Miami Marlins fire president Larry Beinfest amid another cellar finish - ESPN

Another possible candidate is vice president and general manager Mike Hill, who has been with the Marlins for six seasons. Beinfest provided a measure of stability during the Marlins' frequent payroll purges and changes in managers -- they've had five since 2010, with Mike Redmond holding the job this season. Beinfest was general manager in 2003 when the Marlins made an improbable run to the World Series title. But there has been no return to the playoffs since, with Loria's tight payrolls making it difficult for the franchise to be competitive.

-Marlins GM Larry Beinfest fired

The Miami Marlins fired Larry Beinfest as president of their baseball operations and will promote Dan Jennings to replace him, a high-ranking official told USA TODAY Sports. Beinfest, who has been in charge of the Marlins' front office since 2002, nearly was fired a year ago until owner Jeffrey Loria changed his mind. Yet, afar their dismal 59-100 season, Loria decided he had no choice.

-Marlins fire Larry Beinfest; new baseball ops structure coming - CBSSports.com

Beinfest, 49, had been with the Marlins since Loria purchased the team prior to the 2002 season. He worked in the Mariners' and Expos' front offices earlier in his career. Knobler notes the Miami front office has been divided for years. Loria has done plenty to be considered the worst owner in baseball, including signing big-name free agents only to trade them away a year later. That dates back to Carlos Delgado and not just Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle last year. In the statement, Loria also said he will "soon be making further announcements in terms of our new structure in baseball operations."

-Miami Marlins fire president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

It was almost six years ago to the day when Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria gathered his top baseball executives inside the visitor’s dugout at old Shea Stadium in New York, lauded the group of men as "spectacular" and rewarded each with an eight-year contract, rare job security in a sport in which turnover is notoriously high. A wrecking ball eventually toppled Shea. On Friday, Loria took a sledgehammer to his baseball staff as well, firing president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest in a move that followed more than a year of speculation. "I have relieved Larry Beinfest of his duties so he may pursue other opportunities," Loria said in a statement that was released soon after meeting with Beinfest at Marlins Park and informing him of his decision. "Larry has worked with me for 13 years, making huge contributions to our efforts and serving as a partner to me in the process."

-Marlins relieve president Larry Beinfest of duties | SI Wire

The Miami Marlins have relieved President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest of his duties, as first tweeted by Major League Baseball.

-Marlins Executive Beinfest Fired by Owner Loria - ABC News

The latest purge by Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria targeted the personnel department rather than the dugout. President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. In reaction to parting with Loria, Beinfest said: "It was time." The owner also fired Jim Fleming, who had been with the Marlins for 12 seasons and was Beinfest's special assistant. Beinfest and Fleming were dismissed with two years left on their contracts.

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