Report: Jeter interested in buying Marlins

Derek Jeter, the New York Yankees icon not three years removed from his last MLB game, has reportedly expressed interest in buying the Miami Marlins and could end up in a potential bidding war to purchase the club from Jeffrey Loria, people with direct knowledge told FOX Business Network.

One of at least three possible bidders to emerge of late, Jeter - represented in discussions with Marlins president David Samson by former Morgan Stanley brokerage chief Gregory Fleming - may end up contending with a group led by former Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush, who's teaming up with Citigroup to finance a possible bid.

Another group comprised largely of businessmen with financial backing from Goldman Sachs is said to be mulling a potential bid, as well.

According to reports, Loria - who bought the Marlins from current Boston Red Sox owner John Henry for $158.5 million in 2002 - had a preliminary agreement in February to sell the club to a New York businessman for roughly $1.6 billion, but the deal never materialized. Now, people involved expect Loria to command anywhere from $800 million to $1.6 billion through the bidding process.

Jeter, who earned more than $265 million throughout his illustrious, two-decade career with the Yankees, has made it clear that team ownership is a goal of his, and the 42-year-old even considered purchasing the NFL's Buffalo Bills when the club went up for sale following the death of longtime owner Ralph Wilson in 2014.

"That's the next ultimate goal, to be an owner," Jeter told the YES Network in 2014. "I would love to call the shots. I think I've learned a lot in my career, not only what goes on the field but I learned a lot from our late owner in how to run organization. I have a lot of things to learn but I would like to do that."