They run the team with the financial industry philosophy of buy low, sell high, seek value, find small advantages.

“We are constantly working to balance the present and future, and trying to thread the needle,” Friedman said. “As an organization, we rely more on the contributions of our young players than basically anyone else in baseball. With this trade we’re hoping to replenish our system and add a lot of players we feel can help us sustain this run of success we’ve had the last five years.”

Lack of trust

Meanwhile, Marlins management is tone deaf to the concept of public relations. They need a voice other than David Samson’s, because who trusts him or Loria? They wildly overestimated attendance for 2012 given their history of treating fans like chumps. The “neighborhood revitalization” that was to occur around the stadium is a joke.

Keri, a Montreal native writing an Expos book, recalled how Loria was a white knight when he bought the Expos, “but when things went downhill, the shady merry-go-round started, there was an incredible backlash, and the way he left town was unsavory,” Keri said.

As for constructing a winner, Loria and Larry Beinfest are all over the map.

Look at the potential starting lineup: pitcher Ricky Nolasco, catcher Rob Brantly, first baseman Logan Morrison, second baseman Donovan Solano, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, third baseman Greg Dobbs, left fielder Juan Pierre, center fielder Justin Ruggiano, right fielder Giancarlo Stanton. Care to guess the team home run total?

Only two homegrown players, and no faith that they’ll be here if and when the Marlins turn things around.

Baseball is an inexact science, but the Rays took a deep breath and embraced positive change. These ex-Goldman Sachs guys want to make a profit as badly as anybody, but they understand the perpetual link between success on the field and in the stands. If Marlins executives care, they better pay attention.