No, I can't imagine MLB has any interest in the Dodgers moving out of the Los Angeles market. This takeover is directly because of how ugly the McCourts' divorce has gotten. Since the original pre-nup was invalidated, they've been working on a settlement. But, to pay for his divorce, Frank McCourt needs hundreds of millions of dollars loaned to him from FOX using a future Dodgers TV deal as collateral to pay off Jamie. Bud Selig has so far refused to allow that money (supposed to be spent on baseball) to be spent settling a divorce, leading to speculation that Frank will sue MLB (which a Dodgers spokesman basically confirmed this afternoon).
In addition, the Dodgers have had issues meeting payroll, with the culprit likely the immense legal costs ($19 million and rising by some accounts) of the divorce and general devaluation of the McCourts' assets in the wake of the financial crisis. It also came out during the divorce proceedings that they were diverting millions of dollars to their other assets from the Dodgers during the recession -- essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul. Frank covered a lot of his costs by deferring owed money, as well. The IRS is all over the McCourts, too, as they appear to have potentially been embezzling from the team. (Frank, at the very least, was siphoning money to support his lifestyle, and their kids have been drawing hefty salaries despite not having any actual jobs with the team.)
If McCourt agrees to sell the team, as MLB is clearly hoping at this point (this is basically a not-so-subtle "get the fuck out" from Selig), this won't get messy at all, and Frank will use the proceeds to pay off his ex-wife. If he refuses to sell, as looks to be the case, then this will get very ugly very quickly.
And, if they follow the model of what happened with the Expos, anyone making more than $8.15 an hour is going to be in the unemployment line next week.
What's really weird in this whole case is that MLB has taken over the Dodgers, but the Wilpons are allowed to continue running the Mets into the ground. I mean, McCourt's taking out personal loans to cover expenses, sure, but the Wilpons would be turned down by the payday loan sharks next to the bodegas in Queens.
In addition, the Dodgers have had issues meeting payroll, with the culprit likely the immense legal costs ($19 million and rising by some accounts) of the divorce and general devaluation of the McCourts' assets in the wake of the financial crisis. It also came out during the divorce proceedings that they were diverting millions of dollars to their other assets from the Dodgers during the recession -- essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul. Frank covered a lot of his costs by deferring owed money, as well. The IRS is all over the McCourts, too, as they appear to have potentially been embezzling from the team. (Frank, at the very least, was siphoning money to support his lifestyle, and their kids have been drawing hefty salaries despite not having any actual jobs with the team.)
If McCourt agrees to sell the team, as MLB is clearly hoping at this point (this is basically a not-so-subtle "get the fuck out" from Selig), this won't get messy at all, and Frank will use the proceeds to pay off his ex-wife. If he refuses to sell, as looks to be the case, then this will get very ugly very quickly.
And, if they follow the model of what happened with the Expos, anyone making more than $8.15 an hour is going to be in the unemployment line next week.
What's really weird in this whole case is that MLB has taken over the Dodgers, but the Wilpons are allowed to continue running the Mets into the ground. I mean, McCourt's taking out personal loans to cover expenses, sure, but the Wilpons would be turned down by the payday loan sharks next to the bodegas in Queens.
