Bush gives glimpse of team future

Jeb Bush expressed confidence in his group’s bid for the Miami Marlins, speaking publicly Tuesday for the first time about his interest in buying the team from owner Jeffrey Loria, according to Fox Business.

At the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles — an annual forum that focuses on economic and social issues — Bush said he and Derek Jeter have the support of the city of Miami and a cohort investors.

The Bush/Jeter group has reportedly been trying to round up the money for its $1.3 billion bid since reaching a tentative agreement to buy the Marlins last week. Sports Business Journal reported Tuesday that the necessary funds have been raised.

Meanwhile, Tagg Romney’s group is still in the mix and has put in a bid larger than the $1.3 billion, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Sun Sentinel, though it is not believed to be significantly larger. (Major League Baseball confirmed that there are “two very strong groups” still vying for the team.)

Speaking in Los Angeles, Bush shed light Tuesday on what the Bush/Jeter Marlins might look like.

Among the details he divulged:

Jeter would run the dayto-day baseball operations, a job currently held by Michael Hill.

Bush would be heavily involved on the business side, a role currently held by David Samson.

Bush expressed interest in expanding the team’s reach in Latin America, which he said he considers an untapped market for baseball.

Bush, noting that there is “no correlation between high salaries and winning,” would want to “build the team patiently,” which is something the Marlins have been trying to do for years, resulting in their current and strong positionplayer core. “Baseball doesn’t have a salary cap, which is what you have to self-impose as an owner,” Bush said. “You have to have the discipline to identify players the right way.”

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez expressed his support of the Bush-Jeter group last week, saying, “I believe this community is ready for new ownership of the Miami Marlins. Hopefully, if former Governor Bush and Derek Jeter get this franchise, I think it’ll be a good thing for this city and this entire community.”