Manfred 'convinced' Marlins will sell; likely to Jeter's or Romney's group

Though progress may not be moving at the pace he'd hoped for, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred still believes the Miami Marlins will have new ownership this season.

Speaking with Craig Mish and Jim Bowden on Sirius XM Radio on Tuesday, Manfred wouldn't say if he felt current owner Jeffrey Loria was getting closer to a deal, though he did reiterate that he still believes the bids led by Derek Jeter and Tagg Romney are the front-runners.

"There is an amazing amount of interest actually," Manfred said, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "People kind of focused on the Jeter group and Romney group. There are other interested buyers out there. There is by no means just those two. They are the furthest along. They've made robust offers, both of them.

"I remain of the view that one of them is probably the most likely to end up as the new owner of the team. Even if it's not one of those two, I am convinced the Marlins are going to sell."

While Manfred is optimistic a deal will be reached, baseball's top boss would prefer it to happen sooner rather than later.

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, the Marlins are on the hook for $115.4 million in salary this season, and that number could rise drastically in 2018 when Giancarlo Stanton's salary jumps from $14.5 million to $25 million, before it peaks at $32 million from 2023-25.

Manfred hopes the Marlins don't attempt to trade away their highest earners before a new owner can have a say in the direction of the club.

"I am hoping we get some clarity well before the trading deadline," he said. "I have no reason to believe the Marlins are going to be quote, unquote sellers in the players market at this point.

"It would be best for all concerned if we got to point where we know who the new owner would be before that happens so they have some input in that process."