The Dodgers’ front office will likely renew its interest in the market for Latin American players, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported earlier today. Here are some more notes on the Dodgers, who are now officially under the ownership of Guggenheim Baseball Management:
- Former owner Frank McCourt wrote a letter to the team's staff and Bill Shaikin of the LA Times obtained a copy (Twitter link). "We grew the value of the franchise well beyond what anyone thought was possible," McCourt wrote.
- Magic Johnson invested more than $50MM in the team, Yahoo’s Tim Brown reports (Twitter link). The NBA legend takes over McCourt’s former office down the left field line at Dodger Stadium.
- Johnson wants fans to look past the previous ownership group, Shaikin tweets. "Frank is not here,”Johnson said. “He is not part of the Dodgers anymore. We should be clapping for that."
- The new ownership group took out a full-page ad in today's LA Times, Scott Miller of CBSSports.com reports. "We are committed to building the next dynasty," the owners told their fans.
- CEO Stan Kasten says winning cultures start “with scouting and player development," Shaikin tweets.
- "Can't give you a (payroll) number, but we'll be in on every major free agent," said Kasten according to ESPN's Molly Knight (on Twitter).
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
Amen!
$10 parking! Although the Expo line is still more convenient for me…
waits for Dodger hate
Well, Kasten can get things moving by jettisoning some dead bullpen weight like MacDougal and Wright and promoting guys like Tolleson and Eovaldi to help improve the bullpen.
And maybe promoting 3B Josh Fields from AAA and dumping Adam Kennedy.
Lots of dead weight on the active roster, IMO.
A pitcher who has never competed above AA and a 29 year old rookie. Great idea. There’s a reason why you aren’t a GM, methinks.
AJ Ellis is working out pretty well as a 31 year old rookie.*
*I’m not sure if he still qualifies as a rookie
Technically Fields probably doesn’t qualify either, but he rattled around all these years because he hasn’t shown himself to be deserving. Poor hitting, abysmal defense.
Free agents aren’t the answer!
What was the question?
Isn’t “Frank is not here,”Johnson said. “He is not part of the Dodgers anymore. We should be clapping for that.” a “disparaging comment” and in violation of the sale agreement? Not that I expected that clause to last very long before it was violated, but seriously, 24 hours?