Kushners back off Marlins

Discussions being held on altering the strike zone

MIAMI — The Kushner family, which has close ties to the White House, has put the brakes on its negotiations to buy the Miami Marlins because of a report team owner Jeffrey Loria may be nominated by President Trump to become ambassador to France.

Joshua Kushner, whose older brother is an adviser to the president, has a preliminary agreement to buy the Marlins. But in a statement released late Wednesday by Kushner’s brother-in-law, Joseph Meyer, the family expressed concern the sale might “complicate” the ambassadorship appointment.

“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,” the statement said. “If that is true, we do not want this unrelated transaction to complicate that process and will not pursue it.”

STRIKE ZONE: Commissioner Rob Manfred says he can’t offer a prediction on how likely it is that baseball will be altering the strike zone this season.

Manfred says there are ongoing discussions with the Major League Baseball Players Association, and it’s not clear what changes might be made for 2017.

MLB has studied whether to lift the lower edge of the strike zone from just beneath the kneecap to the top of the kneecap. Any change for 2017 would require an agreement with the players’ association.

DODGERS: Sergio Romo looked over his shoulder again and again as if he just wanted to make sure that the No. 54 Dodgers jersey was still there.

It was, representing a confirmation of something Romo had come to believe would never happen. He grew up a Dodgers fan in the farming community of Brawley, Calif. But that was before San Francisco drafted him in 2005 and before the pitcher helped the Giants win three World Series.

“Honestly, kind of sheer irony isn’t it?” Romo said Thursday, the day after signing a one-year, $3 million contract that includes $250,000 in performance bonuses. “I mean growing up a Dodgers fan, then having to let my parents and grandfather know that the Giants drafted me. Then, I’m a Giant.

“Go figure, but here I am, coming over to what is considered in the Bay Area the dark side. I was a rival for so many years. I think it’s kind of cool. Kind of silly, too.”

RANGERS: Mike Napoli’s return to Texas certainly didn’t come out of left field.

The slugger’s reunion with the Rangers , and a third stint with his first World Series team, finally became a reality Thursday when he was re-introduced after finalizing an $8.5 million, one-year contract.

“This is obviously a place I wanted to be,” Napoli said. “I knew it was a great opportunity to be able to come back here.”

Napoli, who has played in three World Series for three franchises over the past six seasons, will be the primary first baseman and provide a needed big bat in the middle of the Texas lineup.

NATIONALS: Neither Max Scherzer nor manager Dusty Baker is certain the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner will be ready to pitch when opening day rolls around.

That’s because Scherzer is dealing with pain from a broken knuckle on the ring finger of his throwing hand, an injury that wasn’t diagnosed until December.

MADDUX PRANK: Greg Maddux fooled plenty of hitters during his career — but maybe never in a disguise.

In a video posted Thursday, the Hall of Fame pitcher donned a fake beard and posed as a sound guy throwing his trademark curveball during a round of batting practice with unsuspecting Cubs star Kris Bryant.

Maddux patiently held a boom mic and offered occasional swing critiques during a video shoot while Bryant took cuts against another pitcher who left, allowing Maddux to step in.

“This sound guy’s got a good curveball — what is this?” asked Bryant, laughing.

The reveal came when the pitcher asked Bryant to sign the bat “to Greg Maddux.”

PIRATES: Ivan Nova is happy to be back with Pittsburgh. Nova made that clear in December, when he signed a three-year, $26 million contract.

It’s as plain as the whiskers on his face — something Nova was not allowed to have when was with the Yankees.

“I respect the way they are in New York, (being) clean shaven,” Nova said. “I’ve got nothing against that. But, you have to make it a little bit fun. I’d never grown a beard before. Here, I can grow a beard and cut in the middle and nobody cares. You have fun sometimes with that kind of stuff.”

YANKEES: Brian Cashman says the Yankees are “not waving any white flag while transitioning” to a younger team.

“We have the potential to be a championship-caliber team,” the general manager said. “Listen, if we stay healthy and perform up to expectations, then I think without question we can be a team to be reckoned with and not to be taken lightly.”