A group led by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former MLBer Derek Jeter has rounded up the necessary investors to buy the Marlins, with a league source saying that they "have the money,” according to Clark Spencer of the MIAMI HERALD. However, the source said that negotiations to purchase the Marlins are "ongoing and that three groups are in the running to acquire the franchise" from current Owner Jeffrey Loria. The source said that the group led by Tagg Romney is "in contention to buy the club ... as well as a third 'surprise' group that is a latecomer to the process." The source said that the Romney group also "has the money to buy the team." An agreement "could be reached within the next 10 days but would require approval from MLB owners" (MIAMI HERALD, 5/7). In Miami, Barry Jackson cited a source approached by the Bush-Jeter group as saying that "one longterm possibility mentioned by a Bush rep is buying and developing some land around Marlins Park," should they succeed in buying the team. Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross said that Bush "hasn’t asked him to invest and he wouldn’t be interested even if he did" (MIAMI HERALD, 5/8).
A POSSIBLE A-BOMB? FOXSPORTS.com's Ken Rosenthal cited sources as saying that former MLBer Alex Rodriguez "passed" last week on a chance to join the Romney group. Sources said that Rodriguez met last Wednesday with members of the Romney group in L.A. to "discuss his potential involvement." But Rodriguez, while "intrigued by the possibility, ... did not feel the time was right for him to become actively involved in team ownership." Rodriguez "currently runs his own corporation, A-Rod Corp., a private holding company focused on real estate and construction, high-end fitness centers and automotive dealerships" (FOXSPORTS.com, 5/6). In Boston, Nick Cafardo wrote one "prominent investor" he knows "looked at the Marlins sale and decided it was a bad investment." Not only the $1.34B price, but the "lack of attendance in a nice stadium that’s poorly located, little dollars coming in from the Miami business community, reduced revenue sharing under the new CBA, [RF] Giancarlo Stanton’s massive contract, and a future share of national TV money may be reduced" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/7).
