Jeets doesn’t have the cash to buy Marlins
MIAMI » Derek Jeter told Major League Baseball on Thursday he doesn’t yet have the necessary money to buy the Miami Marlins and is still seeking help from other investors, a person familiar with the negotiations said.
The person described the status of the Marlins’ sale talks to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team isn’t discussing the negotiations publicly.
The person said Jeter, a 14-time AllStar shortstop, met with MLB and Marlins officials in New York and provided an update on his efforts to raise the needed money. The person said multiple other groups remain in the mix to purchase the team.
Jeter’s group bid about $1.3 billion to buy the Marlins from Jeffrey Loria. A similar bid was submitted by a group led by Massachusetts businessman Tagg Romney, son of former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
Jeter continued his pursuit of the franchise after former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush dropped out of his group. The commissioner’s office wants the purchasing group to demonstrate it has enough cash both to close the deal and operate the team.
Loria bought the Marlins for $158.5 million in 2002 from John Henry, and the Marlins confirmed in February the team was for sale.
Jeter retired in 2014 after 20 seasons with the New York Yankees. He lives in Tampa and has long talked of his desire to own a team.
Cubs demote Schwarber
The Chicago Cubs are hoping a stint in the minors will help Kyle Schwarber find his swing again.
The 24-year-old Schwarber was sent down to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, giving the slumping slugger a chance to catch his breath after a difficult start to the season.
“We talked to him after the game yesterday and he took it really well,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We’re doing it to help reset him and get him back to a fresh start. As you would expect he was very professional about it. He understood it entirely.”
The Cubs also placed outfielder Jason Heyward on the 10-day disabled list before their series opener at Miami. Outfielder Mark Zagunis and righthander Dylan Floro were brought up from Chicago’s top farm club.
Heyward has an abrasion on his left hand. His DL stint was made retroactive to Monday.
Schwarber made his major league debut in 2015 and hit .246 with 16 homers and 43 RBIs in 69 games. He missed most of last season with a leg injury after a frightening outfield collision, then returned in October to help the Cubs win the World Series for the first time since 1908.
But the No. 4 pick in the 2014 amateur draft has struggled so far this year. He is batting just .171 with 12 homers and 28 RBIs.