### Skip Schumaker Announces Departure from Marlins, Won't Return in 2025

Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker has informed his team that he will be stepping down immediately and will not return to manage the club in 2025. The announcement followed the Marlins' commanding 15-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. Schumaker cited a death in the family as the reason for his immediate departure from the team.

The news was first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan. Schumaker, who played professionally for 11 MLB seasons, spent two years as the Marlins' manager, amassing a 144-178 record. Under his leadership, the Marlins made it to the postseason in 2023 for just the fourth time in franchise history. The team, however, was eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Wild Card Series. Despite this, Schumaker earned the accolade of NL Manager of the Year.

The Marlins' front office experienced considerable upheaval in October 2023, with General Manager Kim Ng resigning after the decision to appoint a president of baseball operations above her. Peter Bendix subsequently took over the newly created role. This reshuffling in leadership signaled a change in the team's strategy, evidenced by the trading of key players like two-time batting champion Luis Arráez and dynamic infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. in a rebuilding effort during the 2024 season.

Amid these changes, Schumaker expressed his discontent with Ng's departure and sought to modify his contract to remove a team option for the 2025 season. According to The Miami Herald, the Marlins granted this request during the previous winter, allowing Schumaker to explore other opportunities in the future.

When asked about his plans after the team’s latest victory, Schumaker was visibly emotional and uncertain about his next steps. "Yeah, I'm not real sure," he said. "That [the win] was definitely for my grandma. But I'm not real sure what the next couple days are. I'll be watching the game with my family. But I think it's gonna be tough watching from home."

This sudden departure marks a significant transition for the Marlins as they prepare for the next season under new leadership and a revised strategy.