Kushner family won't buy Miami Marlins if owner gets job from Donald Trump

Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The "handshake" sale of the Miami Marlins reported last week has predictably hit a roadblock.

An alleged $1.6 billion deal for Jeffrey Loria to sell the Marlins to a group led by Joshua Kushner and family will be no more if Loria is appointed as the United States' ambassador to France.

According to reports, Donald Trump's chief of staff Reince Priebus pushed for, and the President signed off on, Loria's appointment. Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, is married to Kushner's brother, Jared. Jared Kushner currently serves as Trump's senior advisor.

The Kushner's are the sons of real estate mogul and convicted felon Charles Kushner.

Last week, Major League Baseball released a statement saying it had not heard from Charles Kushner regarding a purchase.

"Under Major League Baseball rules, the Commissioner's Office must be informed of any conversations about a potential sale. The Commissioner's Office has not heard directly or indirectly of any conversation involving Charles Kushner," the statement said, via FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

Loria donated $125,000 to the Trump Victory Committee last year, according to finance reports. The Trump Victory Committee is a joint fundraising committee for Donald J. Trump for President, the Republic National Committee, and 11 state Republican committees. Trump Victory could accept checks for up to $449,400.

The Kushner family said it "will not pursue" the purchase of the Marlins if Loria is officially appointed as ambassador.

"Our family has been friends with Jeff Loria for over 30 years, been in business together, and even owned a AAA baseball team together," Charles Kushner's son-in-law, Joseph Meyer, said in a statement to the New York Times. "Although the Kushners have made substantial progress in discussions for us to purchase the Marlins, recent reports suggest that Mr. Loria will soon be nominated by the President to be Ambassador to France. If that is true, we do not want this unrelated transaction to complicate that process and will not pursue it. The Kushners remain interested in purchasing a team and would love to buy the Marlins at another time."

Jared Kushner was part of a group who attempted to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012.

Loria's appointment is expected to be announced "within days," according to the Times. The Marlins have yet to comment on a potential sale, first reported by Forbes.

Last month, Trump announced that New York Jets owner Woody Johnson would be named the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Loria bought the franchise in 2002 for $158 million. The Marlins were 79-82 last season and are 1,166-1,262 since 2002, good for a .480 winning percentage.