Former Yankees all-star and current Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter has repeatedly come under fire after trading Marlins’ stars such as Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, and Marcell Ozuna for prospects in what many presumed were cost-cutting moves. In an upcoming episode of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Jeter appears to take issue with Gumbel’s line of questioning about the trades, leading to a heated exchange.
Miami Herald published a transcript of the exchange via HBO, which you can view in part below.
Bryant Gumbel: “If you trade your best players in exchange for prospects, it's unlikely you're going to win more games in the immediate future--”
The exchange continued with Gumbel and Jeter going back and forth over the difference between competing and contending for a championship.
Jeter said he expected the team to contend as constructed.
“If I don't believe with the—in the players that we have on the field, who's going to believe in them?” Jeter offered.
“But as an executive, it looks like you’re delusional if you believe otherwise,” Gumbel replied.
As of Sunday, the Miami Marlins have a record of 5-15, which places them dead last in the National League East division.
Gumbel’s full interview with Jeter is scheduled to air Tuesday on HBO at 10 p.m.
