I have been a Marlins fan my whole life. I remember the 1997 World Series like it was yesterday, the 11th inning as a then 21-year-old Edgar Renteria hit a base hit past Omar Vizquel’s reach and Craig Counsell scored the winning run. I remember watching the Marlins dominate the Yankees in the youth room of my church, full of over 100 people, watching as Josh Beckett dominated the Yankees’ pitching. A complete game in the 100th Anniversary of the World Series. And despite these iconic memories that are ingrained in my psyche about the Marlins, it’s time to face a harsh truth: The Marlins should move out of South Florida. The Marlins have spent decades disappointing their fans with repeated failures, endless rebuilds, and a string of broken promises. The evidence is overwhelming, and the emotional toll on the fanbase is palpable.
Let’s start with the history. The Marlins had their moments of glory, capturing the World Series titles in 1997 and 2003. These victories should have been the foundation for a successful and sustainable franchise. Instead, they became the prelude to some of the most infamous fire sales in baseball history.
After the 1997 World Series triumph, fans were stunned as key players like Moisés Alou, Kevin Brown, and Gary Sheffield were traded away. The promise of a bright future was shattered, and the team was dismantled before it could even begin to build on its success. The betrayal was a wound that took years to heal, if it ever healed at all.
Then, history repeated itself after the 2003 World Series win. Players who had become household names and heroes, such as Iván Rodríguez, Derrek Lee, and Josh Beckett, were shipped off, leaving fans to question whether the organization valued winning and loyalty at all. The cycle of hope and heartbreak continued, alienating even the most devoted supporters.
One of the most obvious examples of the Marlins’ mismanagement was the decision to let Miguel Cabrera go. Cabrera, a generational talent, went on to have a Hall of Fame career, tallying over 500 home runs, more than 3,000 hits, and winning two MVP awards. The Marlins’ willingness to part ways with such a phenomenal player encapsulates their failure to recognize and retain talent.
Fast forward to recent years, and the pattern remains unchanged. The departures of Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and J.T. Realmuto have only reinforced the perception that the Marlins are unwilling or unable to build a consistent and competitive team. Each of these players has gone on to find success elsewhere, further showing the mismanagement and missed opportunities that plague this organization.
The recent decision to trade Luis Arraez, one of the brightest talents in the league, is yet another blow to the already fragile morale of the fanbase. Arraez brought excitement and hope to a team that desperately needed it, and his departure signals a continued disregard for building a sustainable, competitive team. It’s a move that tells fans that no player, no matter how promising, is safe from the chopping block.
This season, the Marlins are off to their worst start in franchise history, with a dismal 13-32 record. This follows a year where they failed to build on a wildcard berth and lost Jorge Soler to free agency without adequately replacing him. The expectation that Josh Bell and Jake Burger could somehow fill Soler’s shoes was misguided at best. The Marlins ignored their bullpen issues from last year, leading to what is now arguably the worst bullpen in the National League. These failures in roster management and team building are symptomatic of a franchise adrift without a coherent strategy or commitment to success.
To add insult to injury, the departure of General Manager Kim Ng, who had shown promise in her tenure and was largely responsible for the Marlins’ first playoff berth in a full season since 2003, further illustrates the organization’s lack of direction and commitment to positive change. Letting go of a capable and trailblazing leader like Ng sends a clear message to the fans that the Marlins are not serious about fostering a culture of winning.
The damage to the fanbase is profound and, in many ways, irreparable. Fans who would have filled the stands at LoanDepot Park are disenchanted and broken by decades of broken promises, mismanagement, and fire sales. In sports, trust is everything. It’s the bond that keeps fans coming back, season after season, through the highs and the lows. The Marlins have systematically destroyed that trust. The repeated fire sales, the letting go of big-time players, and the constant upheaval have eroded the faith of South Florida fans.
It’s time to acknowledge the reality: the Miami Marlins, as currently managed, have lost the trust and support of South Florida. The best course of action is to sell the team to new ownership that is committed to building a winning culture and consider relocating to a city that can offer a fresh start and a new beginning. South Florida deserves a team that values loyalty and strives for excellence. The Marlins have shown, time and time again, that they are not that team. It’s time for a change, for the sake of the fans and for the sake of baseball.
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