Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is willing to consider offers to sell the team.
Nothing is imminent, but Jackson says that “several suitors” have expressed interest in buying the team and that Loria, for the first time, is seriously considering selling. Jackson says $1.7 billion would get the deal done, but that strikes me as the “buy it now” price on eBay. The no-brainer price which seems way, way too high. The club may not sell for a lower price or may not seel at all, but the fact that Loria is considering it is notable.
Loria purchased a controlling stake in the Expos in 1999. In 2002 he orchestrated a deal in which he sold the Expos to Major League Baseball, who eventually moved the franchise to Washington D.C. Loria, in turn, purchased the Marlins from John Henry. He has owned the Marlins ever since, winning a World Series title in 2003. Since then, however, he and the Marlins have become far better known for futility, serial fire sales and aborted rebuilds with a revolving door of managers.
As a result of all of that, few baseball fans would shed a tear if Jeff Loria were to get out of the baseball business.