Agent Boras: Marlins turning into “pawn shop”

LAKE BUEN A V ISTA ,F LA . » Derek Jeter owns five World Series rings, which may be the reason agent Scott Boras had jewelry on his mind when discussing the Miami Marlins’ new ownership.

Boras said Jeter and his group are turning the Marlins into a pawn shop.

It was yet another jab at the Marlins’ direction under new CEO Jeter, who continued the team’s payroll purge Wednesday by trading outfielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Speaking at baseball’s winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras said Jeter inherited a team with a strong foundation of young players that needed only more pitching to become a title contender. Boras said the group that bought the team should have been more carefully vetted to prevent the dismantling, which included trading major league home-run king Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees.

“You would hope that ... MLB would screen the ownership so that we have an ownership that comes in and provides additions,” Boras said. Instead, “they come in and they redirect, so you’re not a jewelry store that’s coveting your diamonds, you now become the pawn shop that is trying to pay the rent of the building, rather than focusing on the diamonds and growth that you covet.”

In contrast to Boras, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said he’s excited about the direction of the franchise, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2009.