NEW YORK _ Jeffrey Loria's life will change forever in the coming weeks, and he doesn't seem to be having any hesitations.
Loria, the Miami Marlins' owner, suggested in a brief interview Saturday night at Citi Field that he has no reservations about selling the team. With his final season down to its final month-plus, Loria said he isn't sad to be giving it up.
"I have no sad feelings whatsoever," Loria said. "I love this game."
Donning a Marlins cap, Loria spoke as he walked off the field and down the dugout steps prior to the Marlins' game against the Mets, after watching the end of his club's batting practice from behind the cage. He is with the team this weekend, as he normally is when they visit New York.
After 15 years of owning the Marlins _ and close to two decades of owning a major league franchise, the Montreal Expos prior to moving to South Florida _ Loria decided within the past year to sell.
He hasn't publicly explained his reasoning, and declined to Saturday.
"It's very personal reasons I don't want to discuss," Loria said. "Very."
Loria reached an agreement last week to sell the Marlins for $1.2 billion to a group headed by retired money manager Bruce Sherman and highlighted by former Yankees star Derek Jeter. The sales process, which has lasted at least seven months and has taken many public twists and turns, is closer than ever to competition, with Loria's fellow owners expected to vote on the deal next month. The Sherman-Jeter group would take over shortly after the end of the regular season Oct. 1.
Beyond that, Loria said he hasn't decided whether or not he will try to stay involved in baseball.
"I haven't given it any thought. No thought," Loria said. "Those kinds of things eventually define themselves."
Marlins have, however, impressed Loria with their summer surge. They were 42-31 since May 28, entering their game Saturday. More than a month of poor play prior to then sunk their playoff chances.
"I'd like May off the map, or off the calendar," Loria said. "It is what it is. They control their own destiny now. We'll keep our fingers crossed."
What about Giancarlo Stanton's recent impressive run?
"It's been spectacular. That's a result of all the hard work he puts in," Loria said. "There aren't many guys who work as hard as he does, during the year and the offseason. And you're seeing the results. Dedicated, hardworking."
As the season dwindles down to its final days, Loria doesn't make much of these being his final ones as the Marlins' owner.
"I haven't given it a second thought," Loria said.
