More details have emerged on why Miami Marlins General Manager Kim Ng shockingly left the team after a successful season in 2023.
Monday brought the surprising revelation that Kim Ng’s tenure with the Miami Marlins was coming to an end after this season. Ng made history in 2020 when she became the first woman ever to have such a high management role in one of North America’s big four sports and it was surprisingly over much faster than many expected.
Related: Kim Ng, first woman GM in MLB history, steps down as Miami Marlins general manager
Ng took the position for a franchise that had 10 straight losing seasons before the pandemic-shortened year. And it was no surprise that 2021 and 2022 were also losing campaigns as she looked to change the losing culture and develop a winning environment. She was able to finally achieve that with a small-market Marlins team that won 87 games and reached the MLB playoffs this year.
However, the proof that she was a top executive on the rise did not seem to be accepted throughout the organization. Following her departure, it was reported that owner Bruce Sherman’s decision to bring in a president of baseball operations was a slight she was not happy with as she would be given a boss that might slow the momentum they had created and counteract some of the ideas she had for the organization.
Miami Marlins were setting Kim Ng up to be lame-duck GM in 2024
Another key development was the Miami Marlins’ lack of long-term investment in her. While the team reportedly did try to pick up her option in 2024, it would have still created a situation where she was a lame-duck GM with a new authority figure that could look for their own GM if the Marlins took a step back next season.
“The organization — which picked up Ng’s mutual option for 2024 before she declined her end — didn’t offer her a new three-year deal following the team’s success in 2023, a practice considered fairly standard in the industry when an executive is at the end of their deal or has achieved significant accomplishments,” Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reported on Monday.
Furthermore, Ng wanted to make other adjustments to the scouting and player development end of the organization to further her vision and mold a consistent winner. However, the ownership remained unreceptive and allowed few changes in those areas of the franchise during her tenure.
“Multiple sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Ng’s departure will be a tumultuous time for an organization that also saw CEO Derek Jeter exit less than two years ago, citing differences with ownership. In the view of multiple people in the organization, Ng did the job well enough to warrant more say and pay.”
– The Athletic
Following a great turnaround season in 2023, the Miami Marlins could be in danger of a major step back as they now have to find a new GM and president this offseason.