A group led by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Yankees great Derek Jeter has raised $1.3 billion to buy the Miami Marlins, but a final deal remains elusive, with a Tagg Romney/Tom Glavine group and a third mystery group working to snare the team with higher bids.
The Miami Herald is reporting that team owner Jeffrey Loria has a nonbinding handshake deal to sell the team to the Bush/Jeter group and has been working on a final arrangement. But the group led by Romney, the Massachusetts businessman and son of former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has offered more than the Bush/Jeter group, as has the unnamed mystery group. While it doesn’t appear to be an all-out bidding war for the team, the higher bids may force the Bush/Jeter group to raise their offer. Still, the Herald is reporting a deal could be struck in the next 10 days.
It’s been no secret that Bush and Jeter have been shopping the deal to potential investors across the country. But so has the Romney group. Miami native Alex Rodriguez was approached by the Romney group and even met with them, but he decided to pass on being involved in the bid. Other prominent names in the baseball world have joined the Romney group, including former MLB pitcher and Arizona Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart, Stewart, it’s assumed, would be in charge of baseball operations for the Marlins if the Romney group lands the Fish.
.@AROD addresses declining the opportunity to join a group bidding to buy the #Marlins. #MLBonFS1 https://t.co/NggbgUoxbo
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 6, 2017
Any purchase would need to be approved by 75 percent of the other MLB clubs.
RELATED STORIES: Report: Jeter and Bush Land Marlins; High-Profile Groups Bidding for Miami Marlins; Marlins Hold Off on Marlins Park Naming Rights Sale; Reports: Jeb Bush, Derek Jeter Interested in Miami Marlins; Miami Marlins Sale on Rocks Because of Politics; Joshua Kushner Behind Miami Marlins Bid: Report; Miami Marlins Sale in the Works; Marlins Reportedly Floated for $1.7 Billion