The Dodgers received "more than 10" opening bids for the team by yesterday's deadline, according to a source cited by Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. Sources said that Rams Owner Stan Kroenke "has explored whether to bid" for the team, but it is "uncertain" whether he has submitted an offer. Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban "submitted a bid," as did SAC Capital Advisors Founder Steven Cohen and former Dodgers Owner Peter O'Malley. Several groups "also turned in bids, including those involving" Basketball HOFer Magic Johnson and former Nationals and Braves President Stan Kasten; L.A. developer Rick Caruso and former MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations Joe Torre; Shamrock Holdings President & CEO Stanley Gold and the Disney family; and White Sox Special Assistant to the Chair Dennis Gilbert, Imperial Capital Chair & CEO Jason Reese and President Randy Wooster. The opening bids "are not binding." SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said that as a result, a prospective owner "might offer more money now than he might realistically be willing to spend" (L.A. TIMES, 1/24). ESPN L.A.'s Tony Jackson reported as yesterday's "deadline passed, there were only two confirmed bids." Gilbert confirmed that his group "placed a bid," and ArmItal Sports CEO Joshua Macciello issued a press release stating he made "a more than fair and considerable offer." Former Dodgers Exec VP & GM Fred Claire "declined to say whether his group had submitted a bid, citing confidentiality agreements all prospective bidders signed when they received bid books." Jackson noted although the "passing of the deadline represents a significant step in the sale process, it isn't necessarily a major one." Sources said that additional bids "are still welcome even with the deadline having passed." In addition, even the groups that placed initial bids "aren't set in stone, as there could be merging of groups, individual movement between groups and individual additions or subtractions within a specific group." What the passing of the deadline does mean is that the weeding-out process can now officially begin" (ESPNLA.com, 1/23).
