There’s a lot of talk around town about the potential sale of the Miami Marlins to one of three investment groups but you won’t hear any of it from Jeffrey Loria.
The Marlins owner stepped into the National League clubhouse during Tuesday afternoon’s media availabilty and quickly was surrounded by reporters from South Florida and elsewhere. If he meant to visit with players or stroll quietly through the room to appreciate the All-Star Game environment at Marlins Park, that opportunity didn’t last long.
Asked when he thinks a deal will get done, Loria responded “That’s your words, not mine.” After a brief pause, he said “No comment.”
The question came again, however, as more reporters walked up and joined the conversation.
“There’s no deal,” Loria said emphatically. “Stop talking deal.”
Reminded that Marlins President David Samson has confirmed that the team will be sold, Loria said “At some point, maybe. Everybody sells something, maybe. Everybody gets married or unmarried, maybe.”
After a few minutes he turned and left, saying he was going back to his office. There was a moment, however, where Loria was able to talk about the late Jose Fernandez and how the charismatic pitcher surely would have been an All-Star here at his home ballpark. Fernandez was killed in late September in a boat crash off Miami Beach.
“There’s always been great interest in baseball in Miami,” Loria said. “What happened with Jose last year was rather unfortunate. We raised the payroll in anticipation of a really spectacular year. You can’t control what happens in people’s lives.”
Whether Loria will be involved in any pregame festivities on the field has not been announced. There are two of his players in the National League’s starting lineup – Marcell Ozuna in right field and Giancarlo Stanton as the designated hitter.
[Photos: MLB All-Star Game festivities in Miami]
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