Larry Beinfest

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Larry Beinfest is the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager of the Florida Marlins Major League Baseball club. Since his arrival in 2002 Beinfest has dramatically modified the team's roster. In the 2002 draft, Beinfest selected Scott Olsen and Josh Johnson, starting pitchers, who both won 10+ games and received votes for Rookie of the Year in 2006. Prior to the 2003 season, he sent catcher Charles Johnson and centerfielder Preston Wilson in a three way trade to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for centerfielder Juan Pierre. This move not only allowed the Marlins to dump a significant amount of salary but also vastly improved their lineup with the speedy Pierre, who won the Lou Brock Award and had over 200 hits and 60 stolen bases in 2003.

Following a slow start to the 2003 season, Beinfest decided to fire manager Jeff Torborg and replaced him with Jack McKeon, who took over as manager at the age of 72 and led the marlins from 10 games under .500 to a final record of 91-71 and the National League Wild Card. The Marlins improvement throughout the 2003 season accelerated when young arms Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis, and Brad Penny began to catch fire alongside the reliable Mark Redman. Beinfest also made the crucial decision to call up slugger Miguel Cabrera from the Double A Carolina Mudcats. In his first game as a Marlin, Cabrera hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He would later homer off of Roger Clemens in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series. Prior to the 2003 trade deadline, in July, Beinfest believed that his team could challenge for a playoff berth and decided to pull the trigger on a trade that sent minor league prospect Adrian Gonzalez, who now plays first base for the San Diego Padres, to the Texas Rangers in exchange for closer Ugueth Urbina. The acquisition of Urbina filled a major hole on the team and improved the Marlins bullpen by allowing them to move the sometimes shaky Braden Looper to set-up man. With their improved bullpen and young staff of aces in addition to a very formidable lineup which included all-stars such as Pudge Rodriguez, Derrek Lee, Mike Lowell, Juan Pierre, Luis Castillo, and Miguel Cabrera, the Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series. One of the major stories of the Series was the massive disparity in the teams' payrolls. While New York's easily exceeded $150 million, Florida's remained under $60 million. Beinfest's creation of a championship team with such meager resources stands as the best front office work in recent years.

After two more attempts at winning the World Series with the nucleus of the championship team from 2003, Beinfest was instructed by owner Jeffrey Loria to severely reduce the team's payroll in 2006. The trades which Beinfest made in the coming weeks sent numerous all-star caliber players to various teams. In exchange for high priced, proven talent, Beinfest received a collection of young pitching and positional prospects. Although some players were highly touted, most experts predicted that the Marlins would lose at least 100 games in 2006, maybe even 110. Instead, the Marlins finished 78-84 and remained in the chase for a playoff spot until the last week of the 2006 season. Trades made by Beinfest prior to the 2006 season include: Pitcher Josh Beckett & Third Baseman Mike Lowell to Boston Red Sox for Shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who became the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year, & Anibal Sanchez, who threw a no-hitter during his 10 win rookie season; Centerfielder Juan Pierre for Pitchers Ricky Nolasco, Renyel Pinto & Sergio Mitre; First Baseman Carlos Delgado to New York Mets for First Baseman Mike Jacobs & Pitcher Yusmeiro Petit. The 2006 Florida Marlins became the first team in history to accomplish numerous feats. They are the only team in major league history to be 20 games under .500 and then at least 1 game over .500 at different points in the same season. They are also the only team ever to have 3 rookies hit at least 20 home runs each and to have 4 rookie pitchers win at least 10 games. Beinfest is regarded highly around major league baseball as one of the best talent evaluators in the game. Some predict because the team is comprised of so many youthful players that the Marlins are poised to make another run at the World Series.

Preceded by Jim Beattie

Montreal Expos General Manager 2001

Succeeded by Omar Minaya