Jeter won't concede to tanking despite Marlins trading top assets

Since taking over as the CEO of the Miami Marlins, Derek Jeter has overseen a ton of change, most notably on the roster. The Marlins traded away Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Dee Gordon in the offseason in exchange for a collection of prospects and Starlin Castro.

Despite this, Jeter does not see the moves as indicative of tanking in order to rebuild the farm system. Speaking with Bryant Gumbel in an interview that will air Tuesday on HBO, from a transcript provided to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Jeter said the team remains committed to competing in the present:

BG: "If you were tanking, would you tell me?"
DJ: "Tanking? What is - no - tanking?"
BG: "Tanking is - not trying your hardest to win ball games in - every day."
DJ: "We're trying to win ball games every day."
BG: "If you trade your best players in exchange for prospects it's unlikely you're going to win more games in the immediate future ... "
DJ: "When you take the field, you have an opportunity to win each and every day. Each and every day. You never tell your team that they're expected to lose. Never."

Jeter remained adamant that the Marlins will be competitive while Gumbel pressed on him that there is a difference between competing and being a playoff contender.

"You're mentally weak," Jeter said.

"No, I just - I'm - I'm realistic," Gumbel said.

Entering Saturday, the Marlins have struggled, going 5-14 through the opening weeks of the season. Only the Cincinnati Reds have posted a worse record in the National League.

Gumbel said that it is "delusional" to believe this Marlins roster will be able to contend in 2018.

"Well, call me delusional," Jeter said.

The full interview will air on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday.