Jordan, Lemonis among groups showing interest in Marlins sale

Two prominent Chicago figures are interested in buying the Miami Marlins.

NBA legend and Charlotte Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan and Marcus Lemonis, who is best known for staring on CNBC business-turn-around show “The Profit,” have joined separate parties to make bids for the money-losing franchise.

Jordan is one of 15 investors in Derek Jeter’s group — which includes money manager Bruce Sherman — according to the New York Post.

Lemonis is teaming up with Florida governor Jeb Bush, Pitbull, and fund manager Wayne Rothbaum among others.

The sale process remains fluid as there are “viable bidding groups that are essentially in the same place in terms of price,” Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday.

The third group is Jorge Mas, who Forbes reported last week, as the group favored in the sale process.

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Jeter’s group has reportedly put forward a $1.2 billion bid for the team, according to the NY Post. It’s not clear how much money Jordan is contributing.

“I think in fairly short order [Marlins owner Jeffrey] Loria will have the luxury of picking from one of these groups,” Manfred told ESPN. “It’s a good thing in terms of the overall financial health of the sport that we have this level of interest at this price level, but it would be nice to wrap it up.”

New York art dealer and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria originally asked for $1.3 billion to purchase his money-losing franchise.

Manfred said of a timeframe for resolution: “I’m pretty consistent that will happen in the relative future.”

Contributing: Associated Press

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