The Dodgers yesterday sued Fox Sports, alleging that the television company is "trying to 'interfere' with the sale of the team in bankruptcy," according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. Fox countered last night with a "sharply worded court filing," saying that it would "ask that the Dodgers be dismissed from bankruptcy." In the process, Fox "slammed Major League Baseball as 'Prime Ticket's former ally' and claimed the only reason Dodgers owner Frank McCourt wants to sell the team's TV rights now is to put 'value rightfully belonging to Prime Ticket in his own pocket.'" McCourt and MLB on Nov. 1 "reached an agreement under which he would sell the Dodgers and the league would not oppose an effort by McCourt to market the team's television rights." The Dodgers' current TV contract "forbids the team from negotiating with any party other than Fox through Nov. 30, 2012, a provision the team has asked the court to declare unenforceable." Last week, Fox "sent a letter to the investment bank handling the Dodgers' sale demanding that it 'cease and desist' from claiming it could solicit bids for the team's TV rights regardless of the current Fox contract." The suit the Dodgers filed claims the letter represented "a deliberate attempt by Fox to interfere" with the team sale and charges Fox with "attempts to assert possession of, and exercise control over, property rights of (the Dodgers), including (the Dodgers') existing and future media rights." Fox said that it would "soon file a motion to dismiss the Dodgers from bankruptcy, arguing that the sale agreement apparently resolves the differences between McCourt and MLB" (L.A. TIMES, 11/17).
SLOW OFFSEASON: ESPN.com's Jim Bowden noted while the Dodgers have re-signed CF Matt Kemp, this offseason is "one of treading water" for the team and GM Ned Colletti." The sale of the team "leaves all major signings or trades in question." For the time being, "difference-making players are off Colletti's radar and so far only mid- to low-level free agents ... are biting" (ESPN.com, 11/16).
