Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt has told MLB officials that he "expects to meet the team's payroll next week," contrary to reports that he would not be able to do so, according to sources cited by Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. If he can meet the Dodgers' May 31 payroll, McCourt "would at least temporarily avoid the prospect of baseball paying the salaries for him and seizing the team from him." A source said that McCourt "needs about $9.8 million to meet the May 31 payroll." Another source indicated that he "could obtain at least some of that money by accelerating payments the Dodgers were due later this season." Two sources said that the "amount of money needed to meet payroll will increase in June, when the Dodgers must pay" recently retired Manny Ramirez more than $6M in deferred compensation. Shaikin reports McCourt and three of his lawyers "met with MLB officials on Tuesday in New York, asking again for approval of the Fox contract -- baseball is waiting to complete an investigation of Dodgers finances before it makes a decision on the matter -- and expressing the belief that his ex-wife Jamie McCourt has no say in the deal." The McCourts are "scheduled to resume settlement talks" today (L.A. TIMES, 5/26). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on Twitter reported, “McCourt never worried about having the funds to make May 30 payroll, but the June 15 payment remains huge obstacle.”
