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Derek Jeter, Jeb Bush interested in buying Miami Marlins

By Alex Butler
Derek Jeter arrives on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrating the opening of Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology in New York City on May 2. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 3 | Derek Jeter arrives on the red carpet at the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrating the opening of Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology in New York City on May 2. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

April 6 (UPI) -- New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush could be making a play to buy the Miami Marlins, sources with knowledge of the situation.

Fox Business reported Wednesday that Jeter and Bush were among three possible bidders who "have emerged to purchase" the franchise. A source in the financial industry confirmed the report to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Major League Baseball is also aware of the report.

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Wall Street executive and former Morgan Stanley brokerage chief Gregory Fleming is representing Jeter in "talks" with Marlins President David Samson, Fox Business reported.

Bush is working with Citigroup to finance his bid and Goldman Sachs is backing the third bidder, the report said.

The Marlins [0-2] battle the Washington Nationals Thursday at 4:05 p.m. at Nationals Park.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred must approve the sale of any team. The sale has also been linked to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump adviser Jared Kushner.

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The Kushner family later backed out of the deal after current Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria was named as a candidate for an ambassadorship from Trump.

Jeter also has close ties to Marlins manager Don Mattingly, who was his Yankees teammate in 1995. Jeter previously expressed interest in purchasing a big-league club.

"He's always talked about it," Mattingly told the Sun Sentinel on Monday when asked about Jeter owning a team. "I asked him if he wanted to coach and he's like, 'Never.'

"I'm sure he'll be good [as a theoretical future owner of a team]. Jeets pretty much seems to be good at everything he tries to do."

Bush's brother, former President George W. Bush, previously owned the Texas Rangers. The former Florida governor also made a run at buying the team in 2013.

Loria paid $158 million for the franchise in 2002. In February, Forbes reported there was a $1.6 billion agreement set up to buy the franchise.

"Talks are ongoing with other groups who are interested in purchasing the team," Samson told the Miami Herald. "The difference now is, those other offers are being looked at very seriously."

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Bush resides in Miami, while Jeter lives in Tampa.

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