MIami Heat owner Micky Arison interested in buying the Miami Marlins

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

According to a report by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison has expressed his desire to but the Miami Marlins. Arison has informed the Marlins of his interest in the club on more than one occasion, so this isn’t exactly new ground here.

Within the same report, Jackson does note that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria isn’t interested in selling the team “to Arison, Jeb Bush or anyone else who has inquired”.

Rumblings of Arison’s intentions go back to last year, Jackson states from a MLB official. Arison is declining comment and Loria isn’t talking to reporters. This could all go away here.

Jackson does speak of some positives for an Arison ownership.

"…He [Arison] hires the right people, spends money freely (having paid a luxury tax every season of the Big Three era) and has fostered an environment that has earned praise from players. He lives year-round in South Florida (unlike Loria and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross) and doesn’t meddle on personnel."

Now, Loria doesn’t seem to be sticking his head in any doors since the end of last season…so far.

And Jackson closes this note with the following:

"At 73, Loria is nine years older than Arison. So Loria could sell at some point, but not now. If he does, let’s hope it’s to Arison."

I think that goes without saying. At this point, I’d think a great many Marlins fans would prefer Arison to Loria. Here’s David Polakoff from Marlin Maniac:

"When the time comes, one can only hope that Arison will, indeed, still be interested. Until then, we’ll have to hope that Loria continues with his new-found restraint from meddling in baseball affairs, and maybe he’ll even open his wallet every now and again."

Loria did open his wallet a couple of years ago…and after one year dispatched some of the high-priced talent he “bought” to Toronto. As far as staying away from the team’s everyday business, like Polakoff, Marlins fans can only hope. It’s been a decently quiet spring thus far until this. Hope that continues and this news doesn’t bring Loria out his self-imposed non-meddling.

(Call to Marlin Maniac)