MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said of payroll plans for prospective Marlins Owner Bruce Sherman, "I don't think there has been any predetermination that they are going to X, Y, or Z payroll level. ... Mr. Sherman told me he had no idea where those press reports were emanating from, and that it was not reflective of any discussion that he had internally" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 9/9).
NO HELP NEEDED: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Lombardo & Kaplan note the Marlins during the sale "handled the process on its own and without a banker." Along with the sale of the Rockets, traditional advisers were "not deployed by either pending purchaser." Sports consultant Marc Ganis said, "There are only a small universe of buyers. You have to ask yourself why you would use a banker." Sports investment banker Sal Galatioto said, "I will be keeping my eye on the market. Trust me, it is not lost on me that teams are being sold without representation" (SPORTBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/11 issue). A sports banking source said, "I like to think we add value." The source added that the Marlins and Rockets "might have attracted more in a conventional auction process" (NYPOST.com, 9/10).
