:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63724724/usa_today_12532986.0.jpg)
New Marlins ownership has been notorious for turning over personnel that they inherited, both on the field and in the front office. But on Thursday, they parted ways with one of their own splashy hires: president of business operations Chip Bowers (h/t Craig Mish, Five Reasons Sports Network):
BREAKING: The Marlins Marlins have parted ways with President of Business Operations Chip Bowers. Adam Jones is now Chief Revenue Officer. Caroline O’Connor moves into the role of Chief Operating Officer @5ReasonsSports
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) May 2, 2019
Confirming the move, Bowers’ name has been removed from the Marlins official website. The club has yet to release any statement explaining the decision, but Mish expects CEO Derek Jeter to address the media prior to Friday’s game (Fish Stripes will be there).
Multiple reports indicates that he was not being blamed for Marlins Park attendance, which has dipped from 2018’s MLB-worst figures despite the franchise investing approximately $15 million this past winter in “ballpark enhancements.”
Bowers came to Miami officially in February 2018, highly touted for his innovative work with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. After getting his feet wet in Year 1 of the Marlins rebuild, he had gotten far more enthusiastic and interactive on Twitter in recent months about progress that the franchise was making in various areas.
Everything is changing! pic.twitter.com/KvhnRQDe0r
— Chip Bowers (@chipbowers) November 7, 2018
1wk to Opening Day! @marlins is a hard working/talented team w/ mix of young guys & vets focused on competing every night, creating a winning culture & bldg something special. Better food/prices/experience at Marlins Park. It’s time Miami. If you aren’t in, you’re missing out...
— Chip Bowers (@chipbowers) March 21, 2019
Bowers seemingly had a role in the enhancements as well as the November rebrand of the Fish’s logo and uniforms, though it is believed those ideas were conceived before his arrival. He patched together relationships with numerous South Florida sponsors, most notably AutoNation.
However, two issues continue to hang over the Marlins. Opened in 2012, Marlins Park still hasn’t found a naming rights partner. Also, we have yet to see any significant progress in renegotiating/extending their embarrassingly modest local television deal with FOX Sports Florida (expiring after the 2020 season). In the meantime, the franchise’s value lags behind the rest of Major League Baseball, according to Forbes.
Shifting from VP of strategy & development to chief revenue officer, Adam Jones is considered somewhat of a rising star within the Marlins organization. Wells Dusenbury of the Sun Sentinel had an in-depth profile of him in March detailing his involvement in many of the same initiatives that Bowers led.