Arizona Diamondbacks Should Select Larry Beinfest for GM

Larry Beinfest should be the next GM of the Diamondbacks. Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Tony LaRussa is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The only time I will get in is by taking a family vacation. So far be it for me to suggest who the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chief Baseball Officer should make the team’s next General Manager. However, as LaRussa continues to interview his conga line of candidates, one person to me stands out as someone who should be selected for this important position. That would be the former President of Baseball Operations of the Miami Marlins, Mr. Larry Beinfest.

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This is a man that knows what it is like to work in a difficult environment. Now, I am not saying the D’backs have a organization and an owner like the Marlins have. They have to contend with the free-spending Los Angeles Dodgers and the extremely well-run San Francisco Giants. Plus, there is apathy at the moment thanks to the way this season has gone with the way the team was put together by former GM Kevin Towers. Beinfest worked for one of the most difficult owners in all of sports in Jeffery Loria. D’backs’ Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick is no Loria but he is a guy who does not seem to be held in high regard by Snakes’ fans. Plus, he can at least be a little meddlesome as our own Joe Jacquez points out in this post. So working in Arizona would be a breeze for Beinfest compared to his 11 seasons working in Miami.

As far as his track record goes, it speaks for itself. He built the Marlins into a World Series champion in his second season on the job in 2003 and consistently generated competitive baseball teams, often with the lowest payroll (by far) in the game. The list of players that came through the franchise while he was there is a who’s who of stars. Miguel Cabrera, Jose Fernandez, Giancarlo Stanton and Adrian Gonzalez were drafted while he was in charge and he managed to keep the Marlins relevant during numerous cost cutting measures. He was able to trade for young stars such as Hanley Ramirez and Ricky Nolasco and picking up a young second baseman named Dan Uggla in the Rule 5 Draft. Five of the six highest victory totals in franchise history came while Beinfest was running the show. Much of the foundation for this season’s unexpected Miami record came as a direct result of Benifest’s personnel moves.

Maybe LaRussa would feel more comfortable with someone he is familiar with such as Dave Stewart. I think we would certainly trust his judgement no matters who he chooses as General Manager. However, he wants the guy with the best resume, Larry Beinfest would be the man.