Marlins Manager Fredi Gonzalez fired; Pirates’ pierogi rehired

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Fredi Gonzalez has been fired as manager of the Florida Marlins and replaced on an interim basis by Edwin Rodriguez, the team said in a statement Wednesday.

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said he was making the move because he believes his 34-36 team can ‘do better and be better.’

Gonzalez was 276-279 in three-plus seasons as the Marlins’ manager.

Rodriguez has spent the last 1 1/2 seasons as manager of triple-A New Orleans.

In other baseball personnel news, the Pittsburgh Pirates have rehired 24-year-old Andrew Kurtz, who earns $25 per night to race around the stadium in a pierogi costume.

You’re familiar with the racing pierogies, aren’t you?

Kurtz was fired last week after making online comments criticizing contract extensions given to General Manager Neal Huntington and Manager John Russell.

Pirates communications director Brian Warecki says team management learned of the firing on Friday and promptly offered Kurtz his job back because he shouldn’t have been terminated in the first place.

He added that bad publicity played no part in the decision.

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.