Derek Jeter has many skills but appraising talent apparently is not one of them.
Former Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria — in his new book, “From the Front Row: Reflections of a Major League Baseball Owner and Modern Art Dealer” — went after the Yankees legend for moves he made as Marlins co-owner from 2017 to 2022.
Loria, in a conversation with the Miami Herald, discussed the Hall of Famer’s performance as CEO, which included trading 2017 NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees.
“(Jeter) was a magnificent player, and he should have asked for some advice or not been so hasty. Playing shortstop doesn’t translate to success in a business environment. You have to learn, you have to ask questions,” Loria said.
Among the specific moves Loria criticized were trading future All-Stars Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna, as well as gutting the Marlins’ scouting staff and firing Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Tony Perez as special assistants.
“I think Derek felt what he was doing was right,” Loria said.
“You have to admire a guy who wants to work hard at it, but you have to have experience before you make those executive decisions. Many of their [decisions] didn’t work out.”
Loria also made it clear he’s not a fan of Jeter’s ability to appraise art and ripped the five-time World Series champion for removing the home run sculpture from loanDepot park.
Opened in 2012, the artwork was among the stadium’s defining features.
“Jeter came in and destroyed the ballpark,” Loria said, according to the Herald. “Destroying public art was a horrible thing to do.”
Loria had friend Red Grooms design the sculpture for $2.5 million.
The sculpture would erupt following a Marlins home run or a Marlins win and now sits outside, “condemned to neglect and outdoor decay,” according to Loria.
The same cannot be said of the Marlins, who currently own the No. 3 wild card spot in the National League with a 62-57 record following Sunday’s improbable 8-7 win over the Yankees.
