Manfred: Sale decision coming

MIAMI — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is hoping to know the identity of a new Miami Marlins owner within about a month.

That doesn’t mean the sale of the team needs to be final, but far enough along that the incoming bosses can have a say on whether the Marlins are buyers or sellers (or neither) leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

“I’m hoping that we get some clarity well before the trading deadline and the most active weeks in July,” Manfred said Tuesday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio with Craig Mish and Jim Bowden. “I have no reason to believe the Marlins are going to be quote-unquote sellers in the player market at this point. But I think it would be best for all concerned if we got to the point if we knew who the new owner was going to be before that happened so they could have some input in that process.”

The Marlins, who began their week eight games under .500 and double-digit games back of a playoff spot, are rumored to be willing to trade players if on-field results don’t turn around.

The drip, drip, drip of Marlins sale updates has slowed of late — ever since Jeb Bush pulled out of his group with Derek Jeter — but Manfred stressed that “I believe the Marlins are for sale.”

Jeter, who is said to be lining up his own investors without Bush, and another group led by Tagg Romney have gotten the most attention in recent months, and Manfred said they remain the most likely winners of the auction. But don’t rule out others. “There are other interested buyers out there. It is by no means just these two. They are the furthest along. They’ve made robust offers, both of them,” Manfred said.

“And I remain of the view that one of them probably is the most likely to end up as the new owner of the team. Having said that, even if it’s not one of those two, I am convinced that the Marlins are going to sell.” with High-A Jupiter today, then travel to Atlanta with the Marlins with the intention of returning to action Friday. Third baseman

(right hamstring strain) will begin a rehab assignment with Jupiter on Thursday. Shortstop

(left oblique strain) will start today or Thursday. They will bounce together between Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville for about seven games while avoiding those affiliates’ All-Star breaks. Left-hander

(arm fatigue) sought approval Tuesday from

the team doctor, to begin a throwing program Wednesday.

Prado Adeiny Hechavarria Chen Lee Kaplan, Martin Wei-Yin Dr.

ROSS D. FRANKLIN/AP Commissioner Rob Manfred says he is confident that the Marlins sale is going to get done.