Larry Beinfest
Encyclopedia
Larry Beinfest is the President, Baseball Operations of the Miami Marlins, a Major League Baseball
franchise in the National League East
.
, Beinfest made the varsity as a sophomore, the only one on rookie Coach Bob Lofrano's squad. By the end of the season, Beinfest was Lofrano's starting shortstop. The next year, as captain, Beinfest led Chatsworth to its first league title since 1972, its first of nine in a row. Beinfest batted .364, was exceptional in the field, an All-Los Angeles selection as a shortstop, and shared West Valley League MVP honors in 1982 with two-time MLB Cy Young Award
winner Bret Saberhagen
.
The turning point of Beinfest's athletic career came in the seventh inning of the 1981 City Section quarterfinals at West Los Angeles College, when a Grant High baserunner roll-blocked Beinfest's leg, breaking it in two places. Beinfest writhed in pain as rescue crews delayed in reaching him, argued with one another, and eventually took him to the wrong hospital. After nine days in the hospital and three months of lugging a bulky full-leg cast around, Beinfest ended up with a permanently shorter left leg.
Before his injury, Beinfest had numerous recruiting letters from baseball powers like Stanford, UCLA and Arizona State. After his injury, interest waned, even as Beinfest came back strong in 1982, batting .349, leading Chatsworth to another league title and another trip to the City semifinals, and sharing the league MVP award with Saberhagen. Beinfest accepted the only Division I scholarship offered to him, a free ride to Nevada-Reno. He tore up the Northern California Baseball Association his freshman year, batting .375 and earning rookie of the year and all-conference honors. But in 1984, shuttling between shortstop and third base, his average dropped, and he relinquished his dreams of playing professional baseball.
After his sophomore season, he transferred to the University of California, Berkeley
, where he failed to make the baseball team. Beinfest graduated from Berkeley in 1986 with a degree in international business and finance. He spent a year working for an area radio station selling air time and then set off for Syracuse University
where he would earn a Master's degree in Public Communications, envisioning a career in sports broadcasting. Those plans changed a few months after graduation when the Seattle Mariners
offered him a job in their front office.
as a Player Development and Scouting Assistant in the minor league operations of the Seattle Mariners
. He helped coordinate the Mariners' farm system, organized spring training, and dealt with equipment problems, medical arrangements, and scouting schedules. The Mariners promoted Beinfest to Assistant Director of Player Development in 1994. Starting in 1996, Beinfest climbed his way up through the Mariners' front office receiving promotions in three straight years. He became the Mariners' Minor League Director in 1996, Director of Player Development in 1997, and then Assistant to the Vice President of Baseball Operations in 1998. In 2000, Beinfest joined the Montreal Expos
as its Assistant General Manager. He held that position for two years and served as the Interim General Manager of the Expos from October 2001 to February 2002.
, hired Beinfest as its General Manager and Senior Vice President on February 12, 2002.
Through a number of trades and free agent acquisitions, Beinfest built upon the Marlins' existing foundation of young talent and improved the roster into an eventual World Series
champion in 2003. In 2002, Beinfest traded for Dontrelle Willis
, who would become the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year. Prior to the 2003 season, Beinfest acquired Juan Pierre
, who would later be named the team's most valuable player that year, and also signed catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who would lead the Marlins in RBI in the 2003 Playoffs. On May 11, 2003, Beinfest replaced manager Jeff Torborg with Jack McKeon
. The Marlins went 75–49 under McKeon's leadership, finished with a final record of 91–71, and made the playoffs by clinching the NL
Wild Card
. Before the 2003 trade deadline, Beinfest made two key trades that strengthened the Marlins for its championship run. He traded for then-American League
saves leader and closer Ugueth Urbina
, who recorded saves in Games 1 and 5 of the 2003 World Series
. And after third baseman Mike Lowell
broke his left hand on August 30, Beinfest acquired Jeff Conine
just before the midnight deadline on August 31, 2003.
The Marlins defeated the San Francisco Giants
, 3-1 in four games in the 2003 NLDS, and the Chicago Cubs
, 4-3 in seven games in the 2003 NLCS, to win the 2003 NL Pennant
. In the 2003 World Series
, the Marlins became the champion of Major League Baseball by defeating the AL Pennant winning New York Yankees
4-2 in six games. Following their championship season, Baseball America
named the Marlins Organization of the Year and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
recognized Beinfest as the 2003 winner of the Rube Foster Legacy Award for NL Executive of the Year.
Prior to the 2006 season, Beinfest re-tooled the Marlins' roster by acquiring numerous talented young players via trades, the Rule 5 Draft
, and free agency
. He traded for Hanley Ramirez
, Anibal Sanchez
, Ricky Nolasco
and others. Ramirez went on to become the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year, the second NL Rookie of the Year Beinfest has acquired via trade during his tenure (also Willis in 2003). Sanchez tossed the fourth no-hitter
in Marlins' history on September 6, 2006 blanking the Arizona Diamondbacks
at then Dolphin Stadium
. Sanchez was also one of four rookie pitchers on the Marlins to win 10+ games in 2006, along with Nolasco, Josh Johnson, and Scott Olsen
, making the Marlins the first team ever to have four rookie pitchers record 10 wins in a season. Beinfest selected Dan Uggla
in the December 2005 Rule 5 Draft. In 2006, Uggla established the Major League record for home runs by a rookie second baseman and became the first player in Major League history to be selected to the MLB All Star Game the season after he was taken in the Rule 5 Draft. Uggla was honored as the NL's Most Outstanding Rookie by Major League Baseball's players.
During Beinfest's tenure, the Marlins have posted all but one of their top single-season win totals (91 in 2003, 2nd; 87 in 2009, 3rd; 84 in 2008, 4th; and 83 in 2004 and 2005, tied for 5th).
, who Beinfest drafted in the first round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, won the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year award and became the third player acquired by Beinfest to win the award. On January 14, 2010, Beinfest and the Marlins reached an agreement with Josh Johnson on a four-year $39 million contract that is the most lucrative contract for a pitcher in Marlins' history and the first multi-year contract for a Marlins pitcher since Loria became owner in 2002.
because he consistently works with one of the league's lowest player payrolls and fields a competitive team, having a World Series
title and five winning seasons in the past seven. Beinfest is credited for his strong ability to identify the players he wants and work with executives from their organizations to complete a deal. He is notorious for being a tough negotiatior and maximizing his return in trades.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
franchise in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
.
Early life & playing career
Beinfest was born on March 3, 1964 in Encino, California and raised in Chatsworth, California. Playing baseball at Chatsworth High SchoolChatsworth High School
Chatsworth High School is a public secondary school located in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, U.S..As of the 2005–06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 3183 students and 117.8 classroom teachers , for a student-teacher ratio of 27.0.- History :The campus...
, Beinfest made the varsity as a sophomore, the only one on rookie Coach Bob Lofrano's squad. By the end of the season, Beinfest was Lofrano's starting shortstop. The next year, as captain, Beinfest led Chatsworth to its first league title since 1972, its first of nine in a row. Beinfest batted .364, was exceptional in the field, an All-Los Angeles selection as a shortstop, and shared West Valley League MVP honors in 1982 with two-time MLB Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner Bret Saberhagen
Bret Saberhagen
Bret William Saberhagen is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Early years:Bret Saberhagen attended Grover Cleveland High School, located in Reseda, California. Saberhagen starred in both basketball and baseball...
.
The turning point of Beinfest's athletic career came in the seventh inning of the 1981 City Section quarterfinals at West Los Angeles College, when a Grant High baserunner roll-blocked Beinfest's leg, breaking it in two places. Beinfest writhed in pain as rescue crews delayed in reaching him, argued with one another, and eventually took him to the wrong hospital. After nine days in the hospital and three months of lugging a bulky full-leg cast around, Beinfest ended up with a permanently shorter left leg.
Before his injury, Beinfest had numerous recruiting letters from baseball powers like Stanford, UCLA and Arizona State. After his injury, interest waned, even as Beinfest came back strong in 1982, batting .349, leading Chatsworth to another league title and another trip to the City semifinals, and sharing the league MVP award with Saberhagen. Beinfest accepted the only Division I scholarship offered to him, a free ride to Nevada-Reno. He tore up the Northern California Baseball Association his freshman year, batting .375 and earning rookie of the year and all-conference honors. But in 1984, shuttling between shortstop and third base, his average dropped, and he relinquished his dreams of playing professional baseball.
After his sophomore season, he transferred to the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where he failed to make the baseball team. Beinfest graduated from Berkeley in 1986 with a degree in international business and finance. He spent a year working for an area radio station selling air time and then set off for Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
where he would earn a Master's degree in Public Communications, envisioning a career in sports broadcasting. Those plans changed a few months after graduation when the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
offered him a job in their front office.
Early front office career
In 1989, Beinfest began his career in Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as a Player Development and Scouting Assistant in the minor league operations of the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He helped coordinate the Mariners' farm system, organized spring training, and dealt with equipment problems, medical arrangements, and scouting schedules. The Mariners promoted Beinfest to Assistant Director of Player Development in 1994. Starting in 1996, Beinfest climbed his way up through the Mariners' front office receiving promotions in three straight years. He became the Mariners' Minor League Director in 1996, Director of Player Development in 1997, and then Assistant to the Vice President of Baseball Operations in 1998. In 2000, Beinfest joined the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
as its Assistant General Manager. He held that position for two years and served as the Interim General Manager of the Expos from October 2001 to February 2002.
General Manager
Following an ownership change, the Marlins, led by new owner Jeffrey LoriaJeffrey Loria
Jeffrey H. Loria is an art dealer and is the owner of the Miami Marlins. Raised in Manhattan, Loria took an early interest in baseball, attending his first New York Yankees game in the late 1940s. Loria attended New York City's Stuyvesant High School and Yale University, where he initially took...
, hired Beinfest as its General Manager and Senior Vice President on February 12, 2002.
Through a number of trades and free agent acquisitions, Beinfest built upon the Marlins' existing foundation of young talent and improved the roster into an eventual World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
champion in 2003. In 2002, Beinfest traded for Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Wayne Willis , nicknamed "The D-Train", is an American professional baseball pitcher. Willis is notable for his success during his first few years in the league and for his unconventional pitching style, which includes a high leg kick and exaggerated twisting away from the batter...
, who would become the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year. Prior to the 2003 season, Beinfest acquired Juan Pierre
Juan Pierre
Juan D'Vaughn Pierre is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws left-handed....
, who would later be named the team's most valuable player that year, and also signed catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who would lead the Marlins in RBI in the 2003 Playoffs. On May 11, 2003, Beinfest replaced manager Jeff Torborg with Jack McKeon
Jack McKeon
John Aloysius McKeon , nicknamed Trader Jack, is a former Major League Baseball manager. In 2003, he won a World Series with the Florida Marlins...
. The Marlins went 75–49 under McKeon's leadership, finished with a final record of 91–71, and made the playoffs by clinching the NL
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Wild Card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
. Before the 2003 trade deadline, Beinfest made two key trades that strengthened the Marlins for its championship run. He traded for then-American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
saves leader and closer Ugueth Urbina
Ugueth Urbina
Ugueth Urtaín Urbina Villarreal is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. A two-time All-Star, Urbina led the National League in saves with 41 in the 1999 season and helped the Florida Marlins win the 2003 World Series...
, who recorded saves in Games 1 and 5 of the 2003 World Series
2003 World Series
The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
. And after third baseman Mike Lowell
Mike Lowell
Michael Averett Lowell is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball third baseman. During a 13-year career, Lowell played for the New York Yankees , Florida Marlins , and the Boston Red Sox...
broke his left hand on August 30, Beinfest acquired Jeff Conine
Jeff Conine
Jeffrey Guy Conine is a former Major League Baseball first baseman/outfielder who played several years with the Florida Marlins. Previously, Conine played with the Kansas City Royals , Florida Marlins , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Reds , and New York Mets . He batted and...
just before the midnight deadline on August 31, 2003.
The Marlins defeated the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, 3-1 in four games in the 2003 NLDS, and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, 4-3 in seven games in the 2003 NLCS, to win the 2003 NL Pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
. In the 2003 World Series
2003 World Series
The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
, the Marlins became the champion of Major League Baseball by defeating the AL Pennant winning New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
4-2 in six games. Following their championship season, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
named the Marlins Organization of the Year and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 in Kansas City, Missouri.-History:The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 by a group of former Negro Leagues baseball players, including Kansas City Monarchs outfielder, Alfred Surratt, Buck O'Neil, and Horace Peterson...
recognized Beinfest as the 2003 winner of the Rube Foster Legacy Award for NL Executive of the Year.
Prior to the 2006 season, Beinfest re-tooled the Marlins' roster by acquiring numerous talented young players via trades, the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, and free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He traded for Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez is a shortstop in Major League Baseball for the Miami Marlins. Ramírez was named 2006 NL Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 2009, Ramírez won the NL batting title and is a three-time All-Star starter...
, Anibal Sanchez
Aníbal Sánchez
Aníbal Alejandro Sánchez, Jr. [a-NEE-bal] is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher with the Miami Marlins. He is listed as 6 feet tall and 180 pounds...
, Ricky Nolasco
Ricky Nolasco
Carlos Enrique "Ricky" Nolasco is an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins. He is listed as 6'2" and 220, and made his major league debut on April 5,...
and others. Ramirez went on to become the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year, the second NL Rookie of the Year Beinfest has acquired via trade during his tenure (also Willis in 2003). Sanchez tossed the fourth no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in Marlins' history on September 6, 2006 blanking the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
at then Dolphin Stadium
Dolphin Stadium
Sun Life Stadium is an American football stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins National Football League team, and the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. It also hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It...
. Sanchez was also one of four rookie pitchers on the Marlins to win 10+ games in 2006, along with Nolasco, Josh Johnson, and Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
, making the Marlins the first team ever to have four rookie pitchers record 10 wins in a season. Beinfest selected Dan Uggla
Dan Uggla
Daniel Cooley Uggla is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball....
in the December 2005 Rule 5 Draft. In 2006, Uggla established the Major League record for home runs by a rookie second baseman and became the first player in Major League history to be selected to the MLB All Star Game the season after he was taken in the Rule 5 Draft. Uggla was honored as the NL's Most Outstanding Rookie by Major League Baseball's players.
During Beinfest's tenure, the Marlins have posted all but one of their top single-season win totals (91 in 2003, 2nd; 87 in 2009, 3rd; 84 in 2008, 4th; and 83 in 2004 and 2005, tied for 5th).
President, Baseball Operations
On September 29, 2007, the Marlins promoted Beinfest to President, Baseball Operations. During the 2008 season, Beinfest signed Hanley Ramirez to a six-year $70 million contract extension that runs through 2014 and is the richest contract in Marlins' franchise history. Following the 2009 season, Chris CoghlanChris Coghlan
Christopher B. Coghlan is a Major League Baseball outfielder and second baseman for the Florida Marlins.-Career:Coghlan attended East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs, Florida...
, who Beinfest drafted in the first round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, won the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year award and became the third player acquired by Beinfest to win the award. On January 14, 2010, Beinfest and the Marlins reached an agreement with Josh Johnson on a four-year $39 million contract that is the most lucrative contract for a pitcher in Marlins' history and the first multi-year contract for a Marlins pitcher since Loria became owner in 2002.
Reputation
Beinfest is widely regarded as one of the best executives in Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
because he consistently works with one of the league's lowest player payrolls and fields a competitive team, having a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
title and five winning seasons in the past seven. Beinfest is credited for his strong ability to identify the players he wants and work with executives from their organizations to complete a deal. He is notorious for being a tough negotiatior and maximizing his return in trades.