STEP RIGHT UP: NEW PALM BEACH BIDDER ENTERS MARLINS PICTURE

          Palm Beach business exec John Henry "has made an offer
     to purchase the Marlins from Wayne Huizenga," an exec from
     Henry's Boca Raton office said Thursday, according to Barry
     Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD.  David Fry, Henry's investment
     officer, confirmed the offer, but declined further comment. 
     Henry also declined comment.  Henry's offer, "submitted
     recently, is believed to have been" in the $135-140M range 
     -- short of Huizenga's $165M asking price.  The initial
     offer "was rejected," and negotiations "are ongoing, but the
     sides do not appear close to an agreement."  If he buys the
     Marlins, Henry would be required to sell his 1% interest in
     the Yankees.  In other news, Bacardi Martini USA said that
     it has decided not to invest in agent Joe Cubas' group,
     which is considering a bid for the team (MIAMI HERALD, 8/7).