Remember Mark Cuban’s rhetoric two weeks ago that he was only interested in assisting Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan in getting a deal done? Apparently, as has become more apparent in recent days, the alternative to them accepting his help is direct competition.
Barry Shlachter reports this evening that Cuban appears likely to join Houston businessman Jim Crane in a bid for the club.
“We’re exploring working with Crane,” Cuban’s staff attorney, Dan Jauchen, confirmed Monday after the court-appointed chief restructuring officer disclosed the development. Jauchen then zipped his mouth, refusing even to confirm his own name — supplied later by another Cuban lawyer.
Cuban and Crane would appear to be favorites to win the bidding, since both appeared likely to outbid the Greenberg-Ryan group individually.
Shlachter details expected proceedings over the next two days:
MLB-vetted bidders must top the Greenberg-Ryan starting or “stalking horse” bid by $15 million by 8 p.m. tomorrow to qualify for the Wednesday morning auction — probably sent electronically to the Dallas office of the team’s bankruptcy law firm, Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
A live auction would ensue Wednesday if at least two bidders qualify.