Derek Jeter steps down as Miami Marlins CEO

Derek Jeter — for now and by his own hand — is out of baseball.

"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," Jeter announced via statement late Monday morning.

Jeter, who joined the Marlins in 2017 as part of Bruce Sherman’s ownership group that purchased the team from Jeffrey Loria for $1.2 billion, retired from the Yankees after the 2014 season following a 20-year career and almost immediately began looking at ownership opportunities in the game, a goal the Hall of Fame shortstop often discussed during his playing days.

"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," Jeter, who owned roughly 4% of the club, said in his Monday statement. "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."

The news appeared to catch much of the franchise by surprise. One Marlins baseball operations official said there was "not even a whisper" of a possible Jeter departure during organizational meetings that took place last week at the club’s spring training base in Jupiter, Florida.

"I would say most of us [in baseball ops] are excited about the direction [of the franchise]," the official added, specifically referencing a minor league system considered by many rival talent evaluators as one of the best in the sport.

The official added that the "direction" Jeter referenced could have been indications given to him by Sherman that he was unwilling to dramatically increase payroll in the future. The Marlins, generally not known for spending big over the years, had a payroll of roughly $61 million last season, ranking them 27th among the 30 teams.

Sherman, the Marlins’ chairman and principal owner, said in a statement: "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."

The Marlins’ lone winning season in Jeter’s tenure as CEO was the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, when they went 31-29 and upset the Cubs in the first round of the playoffs. They then were swept by Atlanta in the Division Series.

Jeter made history in November 2020 when he hired Kim Ng as general manager, making her the first woman to hold that position in the majors.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who has been in Jupiter for the last week-plus in what have been fruitless negotiations with the Players Association while trying to end the lockout he and the owners instituted on Dec. 2, also released a statement.

"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I thank Derek for his service to the Marlins, the communities of Miami and the game," Manfred said. "Derek is a winner on and off the field. In addition to his valuable contributions as a front office executive, Derek was a highly respected voice on our Diversity and Competition Committees. He helped build a talented front office with the Marlins, including moving the game forward by hiring women in top roles in the Club’s baseball operations and executive leadership, and a foundation that has positioned the Marlins for long-term success. Derek is a pillar of our game and we look forward to his future contributions to Baseball."

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.