Selig rejects LA Dodgers television deal

LOS ANGELES, June 20 (UPI) -- Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said Monday he has rejected a proposed TV deal between the Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Fox Sports.

In a statement, Selig said he turned down the deal -- unveiled Friday as part of a divorce settlement between team owner McCourt and his wife, former Dodgers Chief Executive Jamie McCourt -- because it wasn't in the best interests of the team.

The commissioner said the proposed 17-year deal with Fox was "structured to facilitate the further diversion of Dodgers assets for the personal needs of Mr. McCourt."

The move invalidates the divorce settlement, which was contingent upon Selig's approval of the TV deal. Court records indicated its terms called for an upfront payment of $385 million, with as much as $173.5 million set aside for the McCourts and their attorneys, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Times said Selig's move seems to be a challenge to McCourt either to surrender the team or sue. The report said the commissioner was "aghast" that almost half the immediate payment from Fox would go to the McCourts rather than be used for the benefit of the Dodgers.

An attorney for Frank McCourt, Steve Susman, issued a statement saying Selig's rejection is "not only a disappointment, it is potentially destructive to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Major League Baseball."

"We are extremely disappointed with the Commissioner's rejection of the proposed FOX transaction which would inject $235 million into the Los Angeles Dodgers," the statement said. "As Commissioner Selig well knows, this transaction would make the Dodgers financially secure for the long term and one of the best capitalized teams in Major League Baseball."

Susman said the McCourts' settlement met all the criteria MLB had established as prerequisite to approving the Fox deal. He said he would "explore vigorously our options and remedies."

The commissioner's rejection leaves the team's ownership situation in limbo. The question of whether the team belongs to Frank McCourt or is community property has not been settled.

Major League Baseball took over day-to-day operations of the Dodgers in April.