MARLINS' SMILEY SAYS DESPITE SELL-OFF, TEAM STILL LOSING $$

          Marlins President Don Smiley said that the team is "on
     pace to lose about" $10M this season "[d]espite considerable
     efforts to cut expenses over the past six months," according
     to Barry Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD.  Smiley said the
     Marlins, whose payroll is currently at $31M, "would have to
     trim more payroll to break even.  But we have some
     situations where there are not many more places to go."  The
     Marlins' payroll was reduced from $53M over the off-season
     so that potential investors "would not face heavy losses and
     subsequently be dissuaded from joining Smiley's ownership
     group."  Smiley said that plan has worked and that his
     acquisition is "on track."  He hopes his purchase of the
     team from Wayne Huizenga will be approved at the next owners
     meetings, scheduled for June 9-11 in Seattle, although he
     said that he "has not finished" getting signatures from 15
     "or so" potential investors (MIAMI HERALD, 4/21).