[naviga:h3]Marlins close to completing sale[/naviga:h3]

MIAMI — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says the Miami Marlins are soon expected to choose a winning bid from among three investment groups seeking to buy the team, and all have offered about the same amount of money.

The three groups are working on financial structuring, legal issues and due diligence in preparation for a purchase, Manfred said Tuesday.

“When that process is complete, the Marlins will pick a winning bidder,” Manfred said, “and I’m pretty confident that that will happen in the relatively near future.”

[naviga:h3]Home Run Derby draws big ratings[/naviga:h3]

MIAMI — Aaron Judge’s victory in the All-Star Home Run Derby drew the event’s most viewers in nearly a decade.

The slugfest Monday night was seen by 8.69 million viewers on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and the company’s livesteams. That was up 55 percent from last year’s 5.62 million, the most since 2008’s 9.12 million and the second-most since 1999’s 8.91 million.

The derby got a 10.8 rating in New York, the highest since market records began in 1998. With Mike Moustakas of the Royals among the eight sluggers in the contest, it drew a 13.6 rating in Kansas City, the largest among metered markets.

[naviga:h3]Mayweather Jr., McGregor toss jabs[/naviga:h3]

LOS ANGELES — Floyd Mayweather Jr. reached into a backpack and held out a $100 million check for the crowd of 11,000 fight fans to see.

“Let me show you what a $100 million fighter looks like,” he said.

Conor McGregor interrupted from his stool behind the podium: “That’s to the tax man.”

Mayweather replied: “You’re right. I’m the IRS, and I’m going to tax your ass.”

The undefeated boxer and the Irish UFC champion have thrown their first jabs in a summer of verbal sparring before the fighting spectacle of the year.

Mayweather and McGregor kicked off a four-city promotional tour at Staples Center.

[naviga:h3]Paralympic athlete dies during practice[/naviga:h3]

LONDON — The International Paralympic Committee says an athlete died after being injured during a practice session in London, where the World Para Athletics Championships start this week.

The IPC gave no details of the cause of death of the 36-year-old Abdullah Hayayei, a thrower from the United Arab Emirates who was entered in the shot put, discus and javelin throw events in the F34 class.

The athlete was pronounced dead at the scene.