Report: Derek Jeter a Potential Marlins Buyer
Yankee lifer and recent MLB retiree Derek Jeter might have some interest in purchasing the Miami Marlins. One day.
Marlins fan, stop screaming, because it's probably not even in it's embryonic stage if true, but according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, it very well could be with the future hall-of-famer stopping by Marlins Park this week doing lord knows what:
And if you want to bet which team he'll eventually own? You won't find a safer wager than the Marlins.
Marlins fan, again, please stop shrieking. Wait, why are you disrobing?
The Marlins said Jeter simply stopped by because he happened to be in town, and maybe that's all it was — for now. Jeter figures to approach his goal smoothly and deliberately, and there's only upside by spending some time with Marlins owner (and huge Yankees fan and George Steinbrenner admirer) Jeffrey Loria.
I think this is the first time the words "spending some time with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria" have ever been paired with "upside."
Will Loria try to cash out, now that he has stabilized the situation in the wake of the 2012 trades of Mark Buehrle, Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes? The Manhattan resident has long denied the notion he'll be selling anytime soon. Yet industry speculation persists because the multiple times Loria has shot himself in the foot with rebuilds, manager changes and strikingly low payrolls — and most of all the public funding he secured for his new ballpark.
Please happen. Please happen. Please happen...
Enter Jeter... He lives in Tampa, a short flight (or approximately four-hour drive) away, and he sure seems to enjoy Miami, based on repeated Page Six sightings there. Purchasing the Marlins, unlike the Rays right in his backyard, would keep him out of direct competition with the Yankees.
Jeter would obviously either have to be a minority owner or put together a group to back him because he doesn't have the type of cash in the bank to buy a MLB team outright.
Many were speculating at the time of Giancarlo Stanton's heavily backloaded 13-year, $325 million extension that the end goal might just be Loria selling the team. He's rich (estimated net worth of $500 million), but he's not stupid rich like most successful professional sports owners. The latter own teams to make a profit, sure, but in essence treat them more like a hobby.
But what if this team does start to win, and all that young, affordable (minus the big fella) talent starts panning out? Would Loria really have any desire to cash out then? For this Jeter pipeline to ever come to fruition things might have to stay south for a bit. It's still tantalizing to think about considering what this fan base has gone through of late.
The Marlins have two World Series titles to their name despite only being around since 1993, but these fans -- if any remain -- have been through torture dipped in turmoil and they deserve nothing more than Derek Jeter taking the reigns and leading this team back to World Series glory.
Follow Josh on Twitter @JoshBaumgard
