Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins announced Friday they have hired Kim Ng as their new general manager, making her the first woman to be a GM in Major League Baseball history:

The 51-year-old Ng is believed to be the first female GM in any of the four major North American sports leagues.

Ng has been involved in Major League Baseball since 1990 and has acted as the senior vice president of baseball operations for the MLB commissioner's office since 2011.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi ran down Ng's impressive resume:

Ng started her MLB career in 1990 as an intern with the Chicago White Sox after playing softball at the University of Chicago. It took her just one year to become a full-time employee, and she was eventually promoted to assistant director of baseball operations.

She joined the New York Yankees in 1998 and was named assistant general manager under Brian Cashman. During her time in New York, Ng won three World Series rings.

Ng became the Los Angeles Dodgers' assistant GM in 2001 and interviewed for the general manager position in 2005. She also had future interviews with the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants for their GM openings.

Now, 30 years into her MLB career, Ng is making history and taking over as GM of a team that surprisingly reached the playoffs last season.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Marlins also have a female COO in Caroline O'Connor, meaning two of the three most powerful people in the organization are women.

Jeter's familiarity with Ng likely played a role in his decision to hire her, as she was an assistant GM with the Yankees during his playing days and later worked closely with former Yankees manager Joe Torre in the commissioner's office.

Despite much of their team testing positive for COVID-19 last season, the Marlins finished second in the NL East at 31-29 and reached the playoffs. They also beat the Chicago Cubs to advance to the National League Division Series.

The Marlins boast the reigning NL Manager of the Year in Don Mattingly and a young, talented roster that should provide Ng with the solid core needed to make significant strides in 2021 and beyond.

Starling Marte has appeared in just 28 games for the Miami Marlins since they acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks in August, but the club—which made it to the postseason for the first time since 2003—liked what it saw and has chosen to exercise his $12.5 million option.

The news comes as no surprise. On Oct. 18, Marlins chief executive Derek Jeter said the team intended to pick up the 32-year-old's option, per the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.

Marte is currently slated to be the team's highest-paid player, with fellow outfielder Corey Dickerson slotted to make $9.5 million. Miguel Rojas is the only other Marlin who will be paid $5 million or more. Even with the hefty contract, Miami still has wiggle room to add to its roster this offseason. 

Marte, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2016 All-Star, led the majors with 61 regular-season appearances in 2020, slashing .281/.340/.430 while stealing 10 bases and hitting six home runs.

In center field, he ranked fifth leaguewide in putouts with 122 and was second only to Mike Trout in defensive runs saved, per Rotowire.  

Marte joined the Marlins in a four-player trade that sent pitcher Caleb Smith to Arizona, along with prospects Humberto Mejia and Julio Frias. He had spent just one season in Arizona, having been traded to the Diamondbacks from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team that signed him in 2007.  

The Miami Marlins are partnering with cultural and community platform UNKNWN to provide 2,000 meals at some Miami-area polling places in Liberty City and Little Havana on Election Day next week.

According to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, UNKNWN is selling custom Marlins T-shirts this week at its retail store in Miami and online at both UNKWN.com and the Marlins' auction site. Sales of the shirt will benefit the Marlins' "Feed The Polls" initiative.

The Marlins are also auctioning off several items, such as customized sneakers and game-worn jerseys:

Marlins Vice President of Experience and Innovation Michael Shaw said the following about the "Feed The Polls" initiative and the Marlins' partnership with UNKWN:

"We continue to stand with our community during this critical time, recognizing that amazing things can be accomplished when we are united. We are excited to partner with UNKNWN, who shares our passion in making an impact across South Florida as we focus on social justice, racial equality and the importance of voting. This initiative will help provide healthy meals for some of our at-risk community members and hopefully remove a point of friction as voters participate on Election Day."

UNKWN was co-founded in 2011 by Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who has played a significant role in increasing voter awareness ahead of the presidential election Nov. 3.

Notably, James and his More Than A Vote organization partnered with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to fight against disenfranchisement in Florida.

Specifically, More Than A Vote and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition raised funds to help Florida residents with past felony convictions pay fines and fees so they can vote in next week's election.

Now, the Marlins are raising awareness as well on the heels of one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, as they went 31-29, reached the playoffs for only the third time ever and knocked off the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series.

The Miami Marlins announced Tuesday that injured center fielder Starling Marte will not be part of their National League Division Series roster.

"We weren't comfortable with what [Marte] was going to be able to do," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said, according to ESPN's Brad Doolittle.

Marte suffered a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch from Dan Winkler in Game 1 of the Marlins' National League Wild Card Series win over the Chicago Cubs.

The Marlins and Atlanta Braves will meet in Game 1 of the NLDS on Tuesday afternoon.

With Marte out, the 24-year-old Magneuris Sierra will start in center field and bat ninth.

Unlike Marte, Sierra doesn't have much big league experience. He has appeared in 110 regular-season games with the Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals since 2017, hitting .247 with zero home runs, 20 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 20 attempts.

Marte, 31, was acquired by the Marlins from the Arizona Diamondbacks at this season's trade deadline.

The Dominican Republic native was a 2016 All-Star and is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner who hit .281 with six homers, 27 RBI and 10 steals in 12 attempts in a league-high 61 games during the regular season.

He enjoyed a career year last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, hitting .295 with 23 home runs and 82 RBI. In nine seasons, Marte owns a .287 average with 114 homers, 447 RBI and 591 runs in 1,014 games.

The absence of Marte is significant. He is a strong defender, batted second in all but one game for Miami and has the experience few others do on the young Marlins roster.

The NL East champion Braves entered the NLDS as significant favorites, and with Marte out of commission, their chances likely improved.

Slugger Jesus Aguilar will bat second for the Marlins in Game 1, and there will be increased pressure on leadoff hitter Jon Berti to set the table for the rest of the lineup as well.

Wednesday's 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of their National League Wild Card Series didn't bring all good news for the Miami Marlins. 

Center fielder Starling Marte exited the game in the top of the ninth inning when he was hit by a Dan Winkler pitch. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers, he suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left pinkie.

However, Passan wrote "There is optimism that Marte could continue playing through it."

Monte Harrison entered the game for Marte as a pinch runner and finished in center field.

He is a candidate to start Thursday's Game 2 if Marte does not play through it, although he slashed just .170/.235/.255 with one home run and three RBI in 32 games this season and is nowhere near the same offensive threat as Marte would be for the rest of the series.

Miami acquired Marte from the Arizona Diamondbacks via trade in August, and he helped stabilize its offense and lead it to the playoffs with four home runs, 13 RBI and five steals in 28 games.

He was also excellent in Arizona this year and slashed .311/.384/.443 in 33 games.

This is also the second consecutive game Marte had to leave because he was hit by a pitch. In Sunday's regular-season finale against the New York Yankees, he left after Clarke Schmidt hit him with a pitch on the brim of his helmet.

Miami will face NL Cy Young candidate Yu Darvish in Game 2, so runs may be limited if Marte cannot play.

If history holds, the Miami Marlins are going to win the World Series this year.

After all, the Marlins have won the World Series every time they have made the playoffs in franchise history. While they have made the playoffs just twice in their 28 years (1997 and 2003), they will have an opportunity to add a third championship to the trophy case in 2020.

That is because Miami clinched its spot in the postseason with a 4-3 extra-innings win over the New York Yankees on Friday coupled with a Philadelphia Phillies loss.

The Marlins fell short of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East race, but they are one of the most pleasant surprises in all of Major League Baseball this season. There were not many expectations heading into the campaign considering they were 57-105 last year, and things didn't get much easier when eight games were postponed in the opening two weeks because of a COVID-19 outbreak within the team.

Manager Don Mattingly said, "This is an easy club to be proud of."

There are a number of talented players in the lineup who have helped propel Miami to success, including Miguel Rojas, Brian Anderson, Jon Berti, Jesus Aguilar, Corey Dickerson and Garrett Cooper, among others.

Miami also added a veteran leader in Starling Marte via trade in August, signaling it was making a push toward the playoffs when it acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Marte has been excellent this season and entered Friday's action slashing .287/.342/.781 with six home runs, 27 RBI and 10 stolen bases all while anchoring the outfield defense in center field. He brings playoff experience to the middle of the team's order and is someone who will likely be asked to deliver in key moments against the National League's best teams in the playoffs.

There will also be plenty of pressure on the shoulders of the starting pitching trio of Pablo Lopez, Sixto Sanchez and Sandy Alcantara, although all three have thrived at times this season.

Miami has already surpassed all expectations just making the playoffs, but it has the pieces in place to potentially make a run just like it did the other two times it qualified for the postseason.

Do you love the New York Yankees, live in Tampa, Florida, and have $29 million burning a hole in your pocket? Then today is your day.

The New York Times' Sydney Franklin reported Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter and wife Hannah are selling their mansion in Florida.

The entire property totals 30,875 square feet, while the home features seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and eight half-baths. Jeter also oversaw the construction of a six-foot wall surrounding the estate to provide him with added privacy.

With Jeter in Miami to perform his duties as Miami Marlins CEO, his house has another notable tenant: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen.

According to Franklin, Brady and Bundchen rented the mansion with the knowledge Jeter would later look to make it available. Unfortunately for NFL fans, presenting yourself as a prospective buyer won't work as a means to meet Brady away from the field.

The Miami Marlins acquired outfielder Starling Marte from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Caleb Smith, Humberto Mejia and a player to be named ahead of Monday's trade deadline.

The Marlins have been busy on Monday, also reportedly trading infielder Jonathan Villar to the Toronto Blue Jays, per Craig Mish of SportsGrid:

Marte, 31, was acquired by the Diamondbacks in an offseason trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates and has played well in 2020, hitting .311 with two homers, 14 RBI, 23 runs and five stolen bases. He also has an affordable $12.5 million club option for 2021, making him more than a rental for the Marlins. 

Miami has been one of the pleasant surprises of the MLB's 60-game shortened season in 2020, currently at 14-15 and tied for second in the NL East with the Philadelphia Phillies. A playoff berth is a legitimate possibility. 

As for the Diamondbacks return, the 29-year-old Smith has gone 15-17 in the past two seasons with a 4.41 ERA in 44 starts. Mejia, 23, has made three starts for the Marlins this year, going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.90 WHIP. Frias, 22, went 5-4 in 14 starts for the Batavia Muckdogs (class A-) last year, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. 

The Diamondbacks have entered sell mode, also dealing pitchers Robbie Ray and Archie Bradley Monday in separate deals. Andrew Chafin was also reportedly dealt to the Chicago Cubs.

Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said Monday that the organization's breakout of COVID-19 cases—at least 18 players on the team have tested positive—was not the result of "salacious activity." 

"There is no way to identify how this got into our clubhouse," he told reporters. "Our guys were not running around town in Atlanta. We did have a couple individuals leave the hotel. We had guys leave to get coffee, get clothes. No salacious activity."

"No hanging out at bars," he added. "No clubs."

Jeter said that some of the members of the team's traveling party had a "false sense of security" but that he wasn't laying blame on anybody in particular. 

"I'm not mad. I'm not a medical expert, either," he said. "Hindsight is 20/20. You look back and say, 'Oh, well you know, we shouldn't have played,' but it's important to point out the fact that you don't know where it came from. You don't how quickly it spread."

As for whether the league's testing and safety protocols were sufficient, Jeter noted that it "would be hard to say that the protocols weren't good because we made our own fair share of mistakes."

And Jeter denied that Marlins players made the decision to play on against the Phillies last week when positive test cases started coming in:

Nonetheless, the rash of positive cases in Miami, Philadelphia and St. Louis have threatened to upend the 2020 season. All three teams have already seen a number of games postponed, putting strain on an already-compacted 60-game schedule. 

MLB's approach to its season—namely in not utilizing a bubble environment like the NBA and NHL, both of which have seen no coronavirus cases in their latest rounds of testing—is surely being scrutinized closely by the NFL, which also will not operate within a bubble and will have teams traveling around the country. 

Miami Marlins second baseman Isan Diaz announced Saturday that he is opting out of the remainder of the 2020 MLB season.

Daniel Alvarez Montes of El Extrabase tweeted the statement Diaz released on Instagram:

As of Friday, 18 of the 30 players on the Marlins' active roster had tested positive for COVID-19. Major League Baseball paused the Marlins' season through at least Sunday, and the team hasn't played since beating the Philadelphia Phillies last Sunday.

The 24-year-old Diaz appeared in two of the Marlins three games this season, hitting .222 with two runs scored. He also appeared in 49 games last season and hit .173 with five home runs, 23 RBI and 17 runs scored.

While Diaz wasn't necessarily expected to be a big-time difference maker for the Marlins this season, losing any player at this juncture is significant for the team since the majority of its roster is currently out because of COVID-19.

It remains unclear when the Marlins will be allowed to return to action, but it seems likely that the pause of their season will last beyond Sunday, as they are scheduled to host the Phillies for a three-game set beginning Tuesday.

The Phillies shut down operations at Citizens Bank Park this week after a coach and a home clubhouse staffer tested positive for COVID-19. Although no Phillies players have tested positive, they haven't played since Sunday and all of their games are postponed through Monday as well.

If and when the Marlins receive clearance, they will likely have to call up several players from their alternate training site and may even have to sign some veteran free agents in order to avoid starting the service time clock for some of their prospects.

Getting all 60 games in will be a challenge for the Marlins even if several doubleheaders are scheduled. Teams were given a limited amount of scheduled days off in order to fit 60 games into a small window.

If the Marlins are not able to complete 60 games, it is possible MLB could look into basing the standings off winning percentage rather than record.

There is no guarantee that the entire MLB season will be played, however, as MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly told MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark on Friday that the season could be shut down if the COVID-19 situation isn't handled better.