The Marlins on Thursday traded 2B Dee Gordon and international bonus money to the Mariners for three prospects, the "first of what is expected to be a series of payroll-slashing moves" by the club under CEO Derek Jeter and Chair Bruce Sherman, according to Tim Healey of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. Gordon, who is set to make $10.8M in '18 and about $38M over the next three years, was "considered a primary candidate to be traded this offseason as the Marlins seek to cut payroll to the reported neighborhood" of $90M (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 12/8). In Miami, Clark Spencer writes unloading the contracts of both RF Giancarlo Stanton and Gordon, as well as those of others, "would help" the Marlins get to that $90M figure. The club is also "continuing to await word from Stanton on whether he would accept a trade." The Marlins have the "framework of a deal worked out with both the Giants and Cardinals," and the Dodgers are also "believed to be involved in talks for Stanton" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/8).
HONEYMOON OVER: In Miami, Greg Cote writes Marlins fans "spent many years loathing" former Owner Jeffrey Loria and "wanting him out." They cheered when "finally it happened" and cheered "even louder when the winning-bid ownership group was fronted" by Jeter. But the "cheering for Jeter sure faded fast." The honeymoon "didn’t even last" until Spring Training, and Jeter's "missteps have been startling." He got rid of several "franchise luminaries" as well as Marlins play-by-play announcer Rich Waltz. The team even fired longtime scout Marty Scott while he was "hospitalized recovering from cancer surgery and in need of a kidney transplant." Efforts to trade Stanton are "ongoing and on the front burner," and it "seems just a matter of time" before the club parts ways with him. Trading Gordon "might have been the first notable step toward what the Jeter group would call fiscal responsibility but what beleaguered Marlins fans might call the first siren in another fire sale" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/8). Also in Miami, Barry Jackson writes former Marlins President David Samson is among those "puzzled" by Jeter's first two months as the team's CEO. Appearing on South Florida-based WAXY-AM, Samson said, "Maybe he has a plan. I just can’t figure out what it is." He said he thought Jeter would "get a bigger benefit of the doubt." Samson: "I don't know what his vision is because he doesn’t talk to me anymore. ... His honeymoon has been short lived and that I feel terrible about" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/8).
