Nick Castellanos gets brutally honest about Miami Marlins organization

Nick Castellanos, who grew up in South Florida, watching the Miami Marlins win two World Series, seems out of love for the organization, which is seemingly heading nowhere. The Marlins are yet to spend this offseason and the way things are moving, the fans are finding it difficult to spend their hard-earned money to come and watch games at LoanDepot Park.

Castellanos, who appeared on Tuesday's edition of "The Chris Rotation" podcast, shared his honest review of the franchise.

“I think the way they’re trying to market the team and connect it with the city is wrong,” Castellanos said (22:33 onwards). "I also know there’s a lot of distrust between the city of Miami and the Marlins, especially among the fans who were there back in the days of Joe Robbie and Pro Player Stadium with that first team that won in 1997."

Castellanos highlighted the Marlins’ struggles to establish a lasting connection with their fanbase due to constant roster turnover.

“With the Marlins, they’re constantly turning over pieces. It feels like every day it’s ‘What numbers are out there now?’ There’s no real, lasting connection to any player,” he added.

He also revealed a concerning sentiment among players within the organization.

“Unfortunately, a lot of the players don’t want to be there. You have conversations with them, and it’s like, ‘Man, we’re grinding. Can’t wait to get traded,’” Castellanos said.

Nick Castellanos remarks that there's no one in Marlins for fans to look up unlike Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies third baseman also emphasized on the Marlins' downfall, saying that the people in Miami have no one to look forward to. There hasn't been a bonafide star in Miami, unlike the Phillies, for a while now.

"There’s now a pretty large disconnect and lack of trust between the franchise and its fans," Castellanos added. "On top of that, who’s the player the fans are supposed to connect with?

"Take the Phillies, for example. We’re selling out games, and fans feel a real connection to guys like Bryce, JT, Nola, Kyle, myself, and Trey. These are players fans can grow familiar with, buy jerseys for, and watch over the years."

Despite his criticisms, Castellanos credited former CEO Derek Jeter for steering the team in the right direction during his tenure (2017-2022). He praised Jeter’s efforts in building a strong pitching core despite significant financial constraints.

"I believe Derek Jeter was on the right track with what he was doing," Castellanos said. "Their young pitching core, for a while, was top-notch in baseball, considering the financial limitations he had to work with. It’s not like managing the Marlins gives you the same resources as the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, or Dodgers. That’s just the truth.

"He did a fantastic job with what he had. They made two postseason appearances during his time, and I give him credit for the 2023 postseason appearance because a lot of that success came from pitching, which he helped scout and develop."

To conclude, Nick Castellanos said the Marlins are in a bit of a mess but if they want to revive their fans' faith and fill up seats in the stadium, they need to address lingering concerns.