David Samson won’t be retained by Marlins’ new owners.
New owners want clean break from Loria era
NEW YORK — David Samson, the Marlins’ president and owner Jeffrey Loria’s right-hand man dating to their Expos years, will not be retained by the franchise’s new owners, a source told the Sun Sentinel.
The decision from a group headed by retired money manager Bruce Sherman and former Yankees star Derek Jeter represents a desire for a clean break from the Loria era, which has been marked largely by on-field failure and off-field controversy, as well as the construction of Marlins Park and South Florida hosting its first MLB AllStar Game.
Samson declined to comment.
Speculation regarding the future of Samson, 49, who has been publicly mum about his role under new ownership, ended when MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said this week in a meeting of team owners in Chicago that Samson would not return.
The sale of the Marlins from Loria to Sherman/Jeter for $1.2 billion, as detailed in a written agreement signed by the parties last week, was a major topic at the meetings, where Sherman introduced himself to other owners.
MLB still needs to approve the sale. A vote from other owners is expected in September, with the deal closing and new owners taking over shortly after the end of the regular season Oct. 1.
If and when that happens, Jeter will oversee business and baseball operations, similar to what Samson has done as president since Loria, then Samson’s stepfather, bought the Marlins in 2002. Samson had a similar job when Loria owned the Expos,
until he sold the Montreal team for South Florida’s in a deal orchestrated by MLB.
Since then, Samson has become something of a controversial figure in South Florida, serving as the most public-facing front-office employee for the widely despised Loria. Samson was instrumental in getting the public funding for Marlins Park, which opened in 2012, and led negotiations with prospective buyers in recent months when Loria decided to sell the team.
Samson was a member of the owners’ competition committee and sat in on its international committee.
With the Marlins, Samson was also on the forefront of the team’s philanthropic endeavors such as the Marlins Foundation.
Outside of baseball, Samson has developed a reputation as an avid runner/marathoner, and has plans with other Marlins employees to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days this winter. He also competed on the reality TV show “Survivor” in 2014, but was the first competitor voted off.
Samson reportedly has one year and $5 million remaining on his contract after this season.
Samson reportedly has one year and $5 million remaining on his contract.