The Marlins traded three former All-Stars over a seven-day talent purge designed to "rebuild an anemic farm system" and reduce a payroll that would have ranked around 15th in MLB for '18, according to Clark Spencer of the MIAMI HERALD. Had new ownership "chosen to keep last year’s roster intact," payroll would have increased to about $140M. With the trades of Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon and Marcell Ozuna, the club is moving closer toward a $90M payroll. Former Nationals GM Jim Bowden said, "The alternative was to keep the outfield intact, play .500 ball, finish in third place and draft in the middle." Former Mets GM Steve Phillips added, "I feel for Derek Jeter and Bruce Sherman because the response from the fans was predictable. If you’re going to trade Stanton and Gordon and Ozuna, yeah, they’re not going to be happy. They knew that. Yet they still did it because they knew they had to do it." Former MLBer Mike Lowell said that the team’s near-.500 finishes "might have creased a misguided sense that the Marlins were on the cusp of success." Lowell: "That’s almost worse than being terrible. And I think that delays your philosophy because you think one more piece and you’re there, where really you’re four or five pieces away. Some change had to be made." The consensus within the previous Marlins’ front office was to "begin a teardown and rebuild a year ago, mirroring the process" used by the Cubs and Astros. Bowden: "How did Houston get there? How did the Cubs get there? They knocked it down and started from the bottom. This is what they’re doing. They’re doing the right thing. They had no choice" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/16).
SWING AND A MISS: ESPN's Bob Ley said Jeter's moves with the Marlins have "produced literal boos directed at a man universally admired as a player" ("E:60," ESPN2, 12/17). In N.Y., John Harper wrote Jeter "needs a PR man." Who ever thought Jeter, "so beloved and admired as a Hall of Fame player, would be off to a Carl Pavano-like start in his new role as Marlins’ owner?" He "really needs someone giving him PR advice" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/17). In Miami, Greg Cote wrote, "Remember 10 weeks ago when we all loved Jeter?" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/17). In N.Y., Bob Raissman dubbed Jeter his "Dweeb Of The Week." Raissman: "Jeter needs to turn this around and fast. A good start would be choosing to make yourself accessible. You know your stuff. Explain it to your fan base -- frequently. Don’t hide behind that big desk" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/17).
