Derek Jeter’s pals don’t get his memo on Marlins poker face
Derek Jeter arrived at Yankee Stadium as the center of attention on Sunday — and not just because his No. 2 jersey was being retired.
The retired shortstop has also been in the news for his bid to buy the Marlins along with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Jeter, at a press conference following his jersey-retirement ceremony in The Bronx, attempted to downplay any potential role in the sale of the team.
“There’s nothing to report on that,” Jeter said. “Absolutely nothing. I think sometimes [with] stories, people get ahead of themselves. And there was a story people got way ahead of themselves a few weeks back. There’s nothing to report. If there’s something to report, I’ll let you know.”
Sure.
Jorge Posada, Jeter’s friend and former teammate, didn’t dismiss the idea.
“People are asking, ‘Is it going to happen? That would be great,’” Posada said. “He brings that winning mentality. The people in Miami want it. They want change.”
Tino Martinez also sounded hopeful.
“Owning a team, for him it’s a challenge and brings out that competitive spirit again, of trying to win a championship,” Martinez said. “I think that’s really what he wants to get involved in, is getting to his next level of his life in baseball where he can still do something to achieve a World Series and be the best team, best at what you do.”
During his on-field speech, Jeter repeatedly mentioned the importance of the Yankee franchise to him.
“I’m eternally grateful to be part of the Yankee family,” Jeter said.
But that doesn’t necessarily preclude him from entering a business venture to buy a piece of the Marlins.
Speaking of retired life, Jeter said “you find other things you can compete in. Whether it’s business or recreational sports, you find something.”
Could that be a stake in the Marlins? It seems any potential road to get there has grown more complicated for Jeter and his group.
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The Post reported last week that a potential $1.34 billion bid to buy the Marlins could be in trouble.
Jeter’s group is having a hard time coming up with the cash needed to purchase the team, according to reports, because Major League Baseball requires that the new owner not be saddled with significant amounts of debt to buy a team that is said to be losing money and already has a sizable amount of debt.
Last week, a spokeswoman for Bush said it was “inaccurate” to say the bid was in jeopardy. And Bush recently expressed hope that he and Jeter would raise the money.
Jeter and Bush emerged as the “preferred bidder” to purchase the Marlins last month. Since then, though, other groups have also shown interest, including an investor group led by Tagg Romney, a hedge fund manager and son of 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.