Marlins hire Redmond as manager
Just two years removed from his playing career, Mike Redmond is the new manager of the Miami Marlins, the team announced Thursday.
The former catcher received a three-year contract, as the team moved quickly to replace Ozzie Guillen, who was fired last week.
Redmond will meet with the Miami media Friday.
The Marlins interviewed at least three other managerial candidates in October: Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Bryan Price, former manager Larry Bowa and Detroit Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon.
Redmond, 41, managed high Class A Dunedin in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization the past two years, compiling a 155-115 record. He becomes the eighth Marlins manager since 2002, when owner Jeffrey Loria took control of the team.
"I'm definitely excited," Redmond told The Palm Beach Post in October after his interviews, "but at the same time, this is the first time I have been through the process. I'm going to let it run its course. Obviously, if I get an opportunity to go back and manage in the organization where I started as a player, that would be pretty special."
He played for the Marlins from 1998-2004, and he batted .287 in a 13-year major league career that also included stints with the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians.
At the time Guillen was ousted, the Marlins also fired bench coach Joey Cora, hitting coach Eduardo Perez, pitching coach Randy St. Claire and first base coach Gary Thurman. Third base coach Joe Espada and bullpen coach Reid Cornelius will be back, and the team is expected to bring back infield coach Perry Hill.
"We need to find a way to re-ignite our winning culture," baseball operations president Larry Beinfest said after firing Guillen. "For a number of years here, even after we won the World Series (in '03), we found ways to overcome challenges and put winning ballclubs on the field. I think we have gotten away from that a little bit."
