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Rich StoweMLB One Step Closer to Forcing Sale of LA Dodgers
Posted by Rich Stowe on June 21, 2011
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With Bud Selig rejecting the television deal between Fox and the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday, Major League Baseball is one step closer to forcing Frank McCourt to sell the Dodgers.
Not only did the rejection of the television deal put the divorce proceedings between Frank and Jamie McCourt back into limbo, it also means the Dodgers won’t receive $385 million in upfront money. My colleague here at Bleacher Report, Doug Mead, breaks down nine reasons how this affects the Dodgers ownership.
Basically, the Dodgers (and the McCourts) needed this money to meet a payroll deadline of June 30 (and to once again, pay for some of their own expenses). If the Dodgers fail to meet the payroll deadline, MLB and Bud Selig would be able to step in and force the sale of the team. To meet a payroll deadline earlier this month (and hold off the forced sale of the Dodgers), Frank McCourt was able to convince sponsors to give him an advance and he was able to meet the payroll deadline.
Frank McCourt may attempt to sue baseball and force the television deal to be approved, however, I seriously doubt Bud Selig would have rejected the deal if there was any chance his ruling would be overturned by the courts.
