Miami Marlins Continue Tradition of Trading Star Players to Dump Salaries

Ex New York Yankee superstar Derek Jeter and business partner Bruce Sherman took over as the new owners of the Miami Marlins in September, and they are continuing the tradition of former owner Jeffrey Loria and trading away the club’s star players in an effort to dump salaries and improve the bottom line.

It started on December 7th, when the Marlins traded second baseman Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners for three minor leaguers and international bonus slot money (essentially, increasing the amount of money they are allowed to spend on free agents from other countries). Gordon has led the National League in stolen bases three of the last four years, and was the 2015 N.L. batting champ, hitting .333. He hit .308 in 2017, with 60 stolen bases. Then on December 11th, the Marlins made the Really Big Move, sending 2017 MVP slugger Giancarlo Stanton (59 home runs, 132 RBIs last season) to the New York Yankees for shortstop Starlin Castro and two minor leaguers.

Finally (at least for now) they traded left fielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals for four minor leaguers. Ozuna hit .312 with 37 homers and 124 RBIs last season.

We don’t know who will be on the field next year for Miami, or if the fans will even turn out to see for themselves, but at least the club’s minor league system will be well stocked.