By all accounts, the Marlins have done a commendable job replenishing their minor league system. However, to break the cycle of trading away good players, the Marlins are poised to take the next step. This next step is about nurturing and developing the next generation of Marlins, instilling in them the winning mindset and skills. 

Between 1997 and 2003, when the Marlins won the World Series, this team did not have a winning record. The Marlins have failed to have a winning season. 2003 could have been another fire sale year if not for the team’s success before the trading deadline. Between 2003 and 2011, before the team changed its name from the Florida Marlins to the Miami Marlins, it had four winning seasons. Between 2011 and 2023, the team only had two winning seasons. It was the only time they made the playoffs. 

Part of the reason for that failure is that the Marlins front office failed to sign a free agent that would serve as a mentor to the younger players after the fire sales. The Marlins front office was unable to set expectations. Management consultant Peter Drucker once said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” The meaning of that saying is that culture trumps any plans that an organization has to implement. 

Unfortunately, the Marlins culture did not prioritize improving the team. That required an investment. Please note that what I am referring to is not some big-name free agent. This could have been a guy who would give the team depth. His value was passing on his experience and wisdom on how to become a winning ball club. For instance, the Marlins do not have a Udonis Haslem-type player, someone who could pass down how to be a successful player. 

One could argue that is what a manager is for, but culture is learned from players. If you ask any player from any championship team, they will tell you that the culture learned from their teammates allowed them to win. A culture that called for accountability when a teammate failed, a culture that supported a teammate when they were slumping. A culture that produces a love for each other and motivates them to play for each other, not to wait to be traded to another team. 

Looking ahead, the front office must act swiftly to secure a mentor figure through free agency. This mentor will be instrumental in teaching the younger players the preparation and mindset required to win. The urgency of this task cannot be overstated-it's about teaching the players not to waste an at-bat, and to understand that urgency comes in the fourth inning, not the ninth. 

In closing, we saw the impact of good culture in the early 2000s with the Canes, the Heat, and most recently, the Panthers when they won the Stanley Cup. Finding a player or players who can teach this new group of Marlins how to win should be a priority in this upcoming offseason. If ownership finds that mentor, then we can have a team to be proud of and support for years.  Failure to find and pay for that mentor will lead to another sale, and history will repeat itself.