While MLB rules state that one person is "not supposed
to own two teams," John Henry has served as Majority Owner
of the Marlins for the past two years while owning a
minority share of the Yankees, according to Charles Elmore
of the PALM BEACH POST, who writes that MLB "has yet to set
a deadline" for Henry to sell his piece of the Yankees.
MLB Exec VP & General Counsel Bob DuPuy: "We do have a rule
which prohibits cross-ownership of teams. ... In those rare
instances where cross-ownership does come into play, we try
to provide the individual involved time to rectify the
situation without being severly harmed economically by
forcing a precipitous sale." Elmore: "But where does
baseball draw the line? ... Henry declined to say for this
article exactly what his Yankees stake is and what he paid
for it in 1992, but it clearly has been to his financial
advantage to wait. By some estimates his stake has grown to
something around $10 million." When asked to comment, Henry
responded to Elmore: "Charles, your last negative, blatantly
biased article against the [Marlins] and against me was
circulated by a group who hope to keep us derailed
permanently. ... I can't imagine that you would expect me to
continue to answer questions just in order to have you hit
me over the head with my own answers. I try to help media
who cover our team do their jobs. Is it your job to
convince the public that I am somehow a menace?" Elmore:
"So ... no comment on cross-ownership?" (P.B. POST, 11/17).
