Miami Marlins Rumor: Jeb Bush offered to buy Marlins baseball club; Loria Rejected

Miami Marlins owner Jeffery Loria has rejected overtures in the past few months, from at least half a dozen interested investors, to buy the team from Loria. The most famous of these of those interested investors would be former Florida Governor, Jeb Bush. Bush was the Governor of Florida from 1999-2007.

Loria continues to claim losing money on the Marlins, but refuses to sell the team. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

This is from Barry Jackson, of the Miami Herald:

"According to a source, Bush made a “large offer” to buy the team this offseason, but Loria told him he’s not selling. A second source said Bush had put together a group of wealthy investors, with Venezuelan media mogul Gustavo Cisneros among possibilities mentioned. Cisneros declined to discuss the Marlins in an e-mail."

When approached about the Marlins situation, Bush refused to discuss the matter or confirm whether he would have been Marlins CEO and managing partner if Loria had agreed to sell. That is the same position that his brother and former U.S. President, George W. Bush, held when he co-owned the Texas Rangers before he was elected President.

According to Jackson, Loria has no incentive to sell the Marlins:

"Loria, 72, theoretically would have more incentive to sell after 2014, when he no longer would need to share profits with Miami-Dade County. But a friend of Loria insists that barring a health problem or change of heart, he does not want to sell because he loves owning a team."

The most disturbing part about that, Loria insists he “loves owning A team.” It scares me that he does not say “THE” team or takes the Marlins by name.

The Miami Herald contacted Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who has had recent interest in purchasing a Major League Baseball team, but he said he has not contacted Loria about a potential purchase and does not plan on doing so in the near future.

Apparently, the MLB, like Marlins fans, have been hoping for Loria to sell for a while:

"A longtime official in MLB’s offices said MLB always has hoped the Marlins would someday have an owner with deeper pockets than Loria."

All this should come as no surprise to Marlins fans, as Loria loves to have control over something as big as an MLB franchise. It does depress fans like me, who were holding out hope that a big enough offer would convince Loria to sell.

Please stay tuned to Marlin Maniac for more news on this matter, and all other Marlins-related news.