The Marlins on Monday night denied a Forbes report that they've reached an agreement to sell the team to Miami businessman Jorge Mas.
"There's no agreement reached with anyone," Marlins president David Samson said.
A Mas associate said Monday night that Mas remains very interested in buying the team and has spoken to owner Jeffrey Loria but hasn't made a formal offer and is still doing due diligence.
The Forbes report, quoting "baseball insiders," said Mas would buy the team for $1.17 billion.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday that all three groups bidding for the Marlins have met the asking price and he expects resolution "in the relatively near future."
Manfred, speaking to The Miami Herald after conducting a town-hall meeting at the Miami Beach Convention Center, said of a sale: "I don't think it's days [away] but I think in the relatively near future we'll have a conclusion to this process. ... The way the economics of the game work ... you certainly want to have it done by the end of the season."
Loria continues to consider interest from groups led by Mas; Wayne Rothbaum and Tagg Romney; and Derek Jeter.
Manfred said all three groups remain very much alive and Loria eventually will decide a buyer. The Marlins are hoping to get at least $1.2 billion for the team.
Manfred denied a New York Post report that he's getting impatient with the process.
"When you have something like this that becomes public before it's resolved, you want it resolved sooner rather than later," he said. "I'm not impatient with the process or Mr. Loria. It's his team to sell. We've got three good groups out there and I'm sure it will come to a reasonably quick resolution."
Would Mas be appealing to Manfred because he's Miami-based, unlike the other potential lead bidders?
"We love local ownership," Manfred responded. "Any one of these three groups, when they're finally formed, and if they're the selected group, will have a local presence that will be a positive from the perspective of the Marlins."
Manfred also said the Marlins will be permitted to make whatever trades they want without MLB needing to authorize them.
"They don't need my permission to make player moves," he said. "Given how public the sales possibility has been and given the fact that I'm talking to [Marlins president David] Samson almost daily, I don't think there will be any surprises here. But it's not a permission question."
During the town hall meeting, Manfred emphasized that Miami "was a great choice as an All-Star venue" and praised the team's "modern" stadium.
