Derek Jeter Steps Down As Part Owner and CEO of the Miami Marlins

Five years have yet to pass since the greatest winner in modern baseball history chose to take on the challenges offered by the business side of the game. Derek Jeter joined a group led by wealth-management executive Bruce Sherman in purchasing the Miami Marlins. Jeter owned a four percent interest in the club, but was also named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the franchise. When Jeter took over he maintained one promise: he would do all that he can to win.

Today, the former Yankees shortstop and five-time World Series champion announced he has stepped down from each the ownership and front office roles with the Marlins effective immediately. He cited the changed “vision for the future of the franchise” as the reason for his departure.

From those in the baseball world, the common takeaway is that those above Jeter in the Marlins’ organization are not prioritizing winning. At a time when owners have locked out the players from this great game over a labor dispute, the last thing Major League Baseball wants to hear is a part-owner with a reputation like Jeter casting doubt on the faith of the intentions of those in charge of a franchise. With today being the deadline, per MLB, for a collective bargaining agreement to be reached without missing regular season games, this signals the disconnect between the goals of the players and the goals of the owners.