In Miami, Barry Jackson cites a source as saying that Quogue Capital Founder Wayne Rothbaum and Jeb Bush "met with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred" in N.Y. last week and "continue to work toward acquiring" the Marlins. The source said that the meeting "did not include any representatives from the Marlins." The Rothbaum-Bush group has "lost at least one prominent member in recent days: Tagg Romney." But a source said that the situation is "fluid and that it's not out of the question that Romney would return" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/26).
LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME: In Massachusetts, Bill Ballou noted the Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox "sent some of their heaviest hitters" to Worcester last Friday to "meet with city officials about the possibility" of the team moving there from Rhode Island. The PawSox contingent included Chair Larry Lucchino and Dodgers Senior VP/Planning & Development Janet Marie Smith, who is "joining the PawSox' planning and development team" on loan. The PawSox' current lease at McCoy Stadium "runs out" at the end of the '20 season. Further conversations between the team and the city would have to "involve how to pay for the project" (Worcester TELEGRAM & GAZETTE, 7/25).
TOUGH DECISION: Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said that it was "incredibly difficult" to part ways with team trainer Ed Lacerte as part of a "major restructuring of the franchise's sports medicine and strength training departments this summer." In Boston, Adam Himmelsbach noted in addition to Lacerte, strength coach Bryan Doo, who spent 14 years with the Celtics, and massage therapist Vladimir Shulman, who was with the team for 35 years, "will not return." Ainge said that the department will "now be led" by Dir of Performance Art Horne and Dir of Sport Science Johann Bilsborough. Horne spent the past two seasons as the Hawks' head trainer (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/25).
