The controversial sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers to media mogul Rupert Murdoch appears to be a done deal, despite the heated objections of three National League owners: John Moores of San Diego, Peter Magowan of San Francisco and Ted Turner of Atlanta.
Five of the league’s 16 votes would be enough to kill the Murdoch acquisition. Two weeks ago, there were indications three other NL clubs–the Cubs, Pittsburgh and Houston–also were anti-Murdoch. But the Pittsburgh and Houston owners, according to a good source, are now “leaning toward approval.” As for the Cubs, they can be classified as reluctantly in favor.
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Moores has been the most critical. “We’re very concerned about having a monster to the north,” he said. “(Murdoch) does not care about running a ballclub in a responsible manner.”
Magowan said, “He’ll spend so wildly he’ll drive us out.”
Chances are that down the line, Murdoch, one of the world’s richest men, will increase the Dodgers’ payroll to unprecedented heights. Eventually it would be a bonanza for all the players, especially when they become eligible for salary arbitration, which is adjudicated on comparative salaries and not on a club’s financial means. Big market or small market, the price is the same.
The Dodgers, with Murdoch standing watch, have been careful to keep their payroll at about $50 million, slightly higher than the middle range. Once Murdoch is approved–presumably during the owners’ meetings March 17-19 in Tampa–Mike Piazza, the Dodgers’ All-Star catcher, should have a better chance of realizing his desire for a seven-year, $105 million contract, which translates into $15 million a year.
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Speaking of money, the Yankees’ deal with the Minnesota Twins for All-Star second baseman Chuck Knoblauch evokes memories of the late Charles Finley trying to sell three of his front-line players–Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to the Red Sox and Vida Blue to the Yankees– for a total of $3.5 million in 1976.
Bowie Kuhn, then baseball’s commissioner, negated the deals with the limp explanation that they upset “competitive balance,” a mythic phrase created for the occasion, and that instead of the $3.5 million, Finley should have acquired some young players in the deals as an indication he was planning to rebuild his club.
Now, almost a quarter of a century later, the Twins, mindful of history, received four obscure players along with $3 million in cash. Commissioner Bud Selig, according to reports, scoured the fine print and delayed approval, but in effect, he had no other choice than to confirm the transaction.
It’s a great deal for the Yankees and should make them the winter-book favorite for the American League pennant. Knoblauch and shortstop Derek Jeter will give them the best double-play combination in the league.
The opinion here is the Yankees had the best team in the league last year and would have won the flag if not for the misfortune of running into the red-hot Cleveland Indians, who were at their best in the playoffs.
Baltimore also has an outstanding double-play duo in shortstop Mike Bordick and second baseman Roberto Alomar. Same for the Red Sox’s combination of Nomar Garciaparra and John Valentin, and Seattle’s Alex Rodriguez and Joey Cora. As for Cleveland, no matter who plays alongside shortstop Omar Vizquel, the Indians should be strong in the middle of the infield.
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Bob Watson, who resigned last week as the Yankees’ general manager, will be receiving a $500,000 severance check from majority owner George Steinbrenner. According to sources, the deal included the stipulation Watson would leave quietly and without any disparaging remarks about “the Boss.”
During his farewell news conference, Watson was asked to comment on his relationship with Steinbrenner.
“Next question,” Watson said.
Anyway, Watson has a good sense of humor. At the recent expansion draft in Phoenix, he was confronted by a half-dozen inquiring reporters. Watson answered in weak generalities, whereupon Jon Heyman of Newsday told him: “I need more. You’re killing me.”
Watson replied: “You’ve thrown me under the bus a few times, too.”