Rumors about Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg's interest in the New York Mets keep swirling, despite his continued denials.
On Thursday, The New York Times reported that Randy Frankel, a minority shareholder in the Rays, is interested in buying a share of the Mets. Frankel is part of a group that has applied to view the Mets' financial records, the Times reported. Another member is Steven Starker, the head of a securities trading firm.
Starker and Frankel have ties to Sternberg, because all three formerly worked at a New York investment firm, the Times reports.
A few weeks ago, rumors grew that Sternberg might take a run at buying all or part of the Mets. However, Sternberg denied it two weeks ago.
"This is their team, and I have no intention of purchasing or looking at purchasing the Mets," Sternberg said of the Mets' owners, the Wilpon family.
Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said the team wouldn't comment on The Times' article.
Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon have said they were interested in selling up to 25 percent of the team as they deal with financial issues related to their involvement in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme.
The Wilpons and president Saul Katz have been named in a lawsuit filed on behalf of Madoff victims claiming the Mets' owners made millions in fictitious profits used to help run the team.
On Thursday, a federal appeals panel in Manhattan reviewing a compensation plan for former Madoff clients cast doubt on claims by the Mets' owners and other investors that they have a right to keep that money.
The Mets' owners have denied any wrongdoing, saying they were victims of the fraud. They didn't attend Thursday's hearing, nor were they mentioned by name.
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