‘More than a handful’ of suitors remain after Justin Ishbia reportedly drops pursuit of Twins

FORT MYERS, Fla.

Justin Ishbia may buy a major league baseball team after all.

It just wont be the one that hes been linked to for months.

ADVERTISEMENT After a winter of speculation over whether Ishbia would buy the Minnesota Twins, the billionaire businessman has instead decided to increase his stake in the rival Chicago White Sox and end his pursuit of the Twins, The Athletic reported late Friday night.

Ishbia already is a minority owner of the White Sox and the move could lead to full ownership of the team in the future should longtime majority owner Jerry Reinsdorf decide to sell, The Athletic suggested.

Ishbia is a founding partner of a Chicago-based private equity firm and has been building a house along the lakeshore in Chicagos north suburbs.

But despite his Chicago ties, his name first emerged as a prospective buyer of the Twins in December, a couple months after the Pohlad family announced its intention to explore a sale of the Twins, which it has owned since 1984.

To date, Ishbias name was the only one that has leaked into the public as a potential buyer of the Twins.

Though he is reportedly no longer involved, a source with knowledge of the situation said there are more than a handful, of prospective buyers, noting that a new party entered the mix just last week.

The process, the source said, is certainly closer to the end than the beginning.

ADVERTISEMENT The process goes on, the source said.

It was never dependent on any one party and its going to continue irrespective of any other news.

The prospect of Ishbia buying the team had been an exciting one to many Twins fans, who pointed to his brother Mats aggressive style of ownership of the NBAs Phoenix Suns as an example of what Justin could do for the Twins.

Justin is a part owner of the Suns, as Mat likely wouldve been with the Twins had the brothers taken that route.

Now, its possible that theyll bring that style of ownership to the South Side of Chicago down the line rather than the Twin Cities.

Meanwhile, details about any potential Twins sale have been scarce as the process has unfolded behind the scenes.

The Pohlad family announced its intention to explore a sale on Oct.

10, stating in a release that the decision had been made after months of thoughtful consideration, and hired New York-based investment bank Allen & Company to facilitate the sale.

ADVERTISEMENT The process is underway and, as expected, theres significant interest, outgoing team president and CEO Dave St.

Peter said last month.

This is a gem of a franchise, in a great market, in a wonderful ballpark, so it doesnt really surprise me at all.

But theres also no definitive timetable on the process.

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