Is Dan Gilbert Looking To Buy A Baseball Team?

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert finds himself in the middle of a speculative maelstrom this week. Rumors abound that the billionaire is interested in purchasing his hometown Detroit Tigers baseball team, though the franchise has denied any sale.

"We are on the record and have consistently stated that Christopher Ilitch is 100 percent committed to long-term Ilitch ownership of the Detroit Tigers," the Tigers organization said in a statement to the media. Gilbert's companies have said they do not comment on speculation and rumors.

The denials and refusals to comment haven't stopped the rumor buzz from growing deafening. The Detroit Free Press said several community leaders have said Gilbert is definitely interested in owning the Tigers, and that negotiations on a sale may even be going on right now.

Throw in rumors that Gilbert is looking to cash out of his casino business, a move that makes sense for someone looking to acquire another sports franchise, and the buzz gets even louder.

The billionaire owner of Quicken Loans is also no stranger to attempts to buy baseball franchises. In 2004, Gilbert nearly purchased the Milwaukee Brewers, Crain's reported, instead of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Wisconsin-based franchise instead went to Mark Attanasio, an investment firm founder. Gilbert thankfully settled for the Cavaliers.

The Ilitch's have been forceful of their denials in sale rumors, and plenty of sources have said a sale is unlikely. Still, Gilbert is a major force in the Detroit business community and has been linked to several of the city's pro sports franchises for years. This could be an interesting off-season for Tigers fans.

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