Garvey May Have Role in Mariner Purchase

The same group that Steve Garvey put together to buy the Padres has now made “elementary inquiries” about buying the Seattle Mariners, Garvey confirmed Sunday.

Garvey, the Padres’ 38-year-old first baseman, said he would not be one of the investors, however. He said in a brief telephone interview Sunday night that he can not be involved in the deal while he is still playing, but he could get involved later after he retires.

His Padre contract, worth $1.45 million per year, expires after this season.

Garvey also would not reveal the individuals in his group, but he has said they have approximately $1 billion to spend. The group failed in its bid to buy the Padres, Garvey says, because the Padre front office would not “let us in to see the books.”

Garvey’s middle man at one point in the Padre negotiations was his friend and lawyer, Alan Rothenberg, the president of the Clippers.

Asked Sunday night if he was involved in the Mariner inquiries, Rothenberg said: “I can’t comment on it right now. Let me talk to Steve (Garvey) first.”

The Padres eventually were sold a month ago to Mariner owner George Argyros, but Argyros can not assume control of the team until he sells the Mariners.

In earlier interview that appeared in the Tacoma (Wash.) News-Tribune, Garvey was more specific about his group. He said inquiries to the Mariners had been made by “two gentlemen, though it could be one or two more with interests all over the country, including the Northwest. They are very reputable investors who are very capable of purchasing a ballclub, operating it and investing in it.

“They have just inquired on a purely elementary basis, just as to what the procedures are,” Garvey said.

He added: “I think the important thing everybody should know is that there are people out there who care and who are interested in making it work. Seattle is a fine city, a good market and a good baseball team.”