Marlins plan to sell soon, but price might be lower than expected

Chris Cwik
·Staff writer

The Miami Marlins won’t sell for the price of lobsters. The franchise is moving closer to making a decision on a buyer, but all three groups involved in the bidding have come in under Jeffrey Loria’s $1.3 billion asking price, according to the Miami Herald.

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When rumors of a possible sale first broke in December, Loria was reportedly looking for $1.7 billion to sell the team. It appears he’s since lowered that price, and may have to go lower in order to get a deal done.

It appears he’s willing to do that. Loria is reportedly looking to make a decision on the sale by the end of July, according to the Herald.

Derek Jeter and a group led by Tagg Romney and Tom Glavine remain strong contenders, but a third group, led by Miami businessman Jorge Mas, is also involved.

According to the Herald, the group led by Romney has bid $1.1 billion for the franchise, but was told that won’t get the job done. The two sides are expected to continue negotiating.

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is looking to sell. (AP Photo)
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is looking to sell. (AP Photo)

Jeter’s group is believed to have a slightly higher bid, but still needs time to gather those funds. Jeter had paired up with former Florida governor Jeb Bush initially, but Bush left after a power struggle, taking somewhere around $20 million with him. It was not believed his loss would be a major impediment to Jeter’s pursuit of the franchise. In a fun twist, Bush has reportedly contributed to the Romney group now.

If all things are equal, it’s believed Jeter would have a leg up on winning the franchise. It’s obvious why that would be the case. Jeter was the face of baseball for 20 seasons. Though he hasn’t played since 2014, he still might be the most recognizable name in the game. His involvement could draw in a lot of casual fans.

It doesn’t sound like fans will have to wait much longer, at least. Loria seems set on making his decision soon. By the trade deadline, the Marlins sale may already be in the works. Loria may not get as much as he initially hoped, but whoever catches the Marlins is going to be on the hook for quite a bit of money.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik