Derek Jeter is arguably the greatest shortstop of all time, and he is a staple in the baseball community. When you think of the Yankees and baseball in general, Jeter’s name is at the top of the list.
Following the captain’s playing career concluding, Jeter chose to join the Marlins as a member of Bruce Sherman’s ownership group in 2017. He earned a 4% stake in the team and $5 million per year until 2022, when his contract expired.
On Monday, Jeter released a statement announcing his departure from the team.
“Today I am announcing that the Miami Marlins and I are officially ending our relationship, and I will no longer serve as CEO nor as a shareholder in the Club. We had a vision five years ago to turn the Marlins franchise around, and as CEO, I have been proud to put my name and reputation on the line to make our plan a reality. Through hard work, trust and accountability, we transformed every aspect of the franchise, reshaping the workforce, and developing a long-term strategic plan for success.
“That said, the vision for the future of the franchise is different than the one I signed up to lead. Now is the right time for me to step aside as a new season begins.
“My family and I would like to thank our incredible staff, Marlins fans, Marlins players, and the greater Miami community for welcoming us with open arms and making us feel at home. The organization is stronger today than it was five years ago, and I am thankful and grateful to have been a part of this team.”
Bad Move by the Marlins
Jeter is unhappy with where the organization is headed, and it’s disappointing because he is a winner. The captain had the vision to create a postseason team within five years without the expanded playoffs.
Miami is choosing to tighten up its budget, and this means losing in Major League Baseball. The Marlins are in business to make a profit, but Bruce Sherman does not have winning at the top of his list.
I have no idea why Sherman brought in Jeter if he did not win baseball games. The Hall of Famer played his whole career with the Yankees, and he is proven winner. If Miami did not want to win, they should not have even considered Jeter.
The franchise has potential, but seats are filled by winning games. Miami only had 642,000 fans in the stands last season, which is unacceptable, and it shows a franchise that’s in a coffin.
Following Jeter’s announcement, Sherman stated, “The Miami Marlins and Derek Jeter announced today that they have agreed to officially end their relationship. The Marlins thank Derek for his many contributions and wish him luck in his future endeavors. We have a deep bench of talent that will oversee both business and baseball decisions while we work to identify a new CEO to lead our franchise. The ownership group is committed to keep investing in the future of the franchise — and we are determined to build a team that will return to the postseason and excite Marlins fans and the local community.”
This was the best move for Jeter’s reputation. A lack of competitiveness is not in the Hall of Famer’s DNA. RIP to the Marlins.
