A-Rod not in on bid for Marlins

CHICAGO — Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter going mano a mano for the right to own the Miami Marlins? Lamentably, no. This past week, a source confirmed, A-Rod passed on the opportunity to join Jeter’s rival group in the competition to purchase the Marlins from Manhattan-based art dealer Jeffrey Loria. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal first reported on the development.

Jeter and former Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush are facing off against Tagg Romney, the son of former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, and given how messy the sweepstakes has proceeded, the addition of late entries wouldn’t surprise.

A source told The Post the BushJeter team bid about $1 billion. Though neither man possesses enough personal wealth to be the majority owner, Jeter has told friends that he and Bush have sufficient financing lined up.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has said he hopes for the Marlins to choose their preferred group shortly, then that group must be approved by the other 29 owners.

Rodriguez, who makes his fulltime home in South Florida and is immensely popular there, met in Los Angeles on Wednesday with members of the Romney group to discuss an investment and role, as FOX first reported. The Romney group also includes former Braves and Mets pitcher Tom Glavine.

A-Rod, like his frenemy, Jeter, aspires to be a team owner, and he has formed strong bonds with many of the industry’s current owners as well as Manfred. However, Rodriguez ultimately passed, a source said, in large part out of respect for Jeter.

The two men, once best friends and then unfriendly teammates, appeared together this past week on a delightfully awkward CNBC interview at BTIG Charity Day in Manhattan. Had Rodriguez joined the Romney group, the Marlins bidding largely would have been portrayed publicly as another tremendous chapter in the Jeter and A-Rod feud.

Rodriguez, having just retired last year after the Yankees released him, has enough going on. He is working for FOX Sports as a baseball analyst and will make his debut as a game commentator on May 18, when he broadcasts the Yankees game at Kansas City. He runs A-Rod Corp, involved in commercial real estate and car dealerships, among other ventures. And he works as a special adviser to Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner while also serving as a guest instructor.