LOS ANGELES - Frank McCourt finally bought the Dodgers on Friday, taking over the team from News Corp. less than a week before Los Angeles starts spring training.
With the close of the highly leveraged $430-million sale, the Boston real estate developer became team chairman. His wife, Jamie, became vice chairman.
"They now have official control of the franchise," Dodgers senior vice president Derrick Hall said. "They're ecstatic and ready to get going."
McCourt announced Oct. 10 he had agreed to buy the team along with Dodger Stadium and adjoining real estate, plus training facilities in Vero Beach and the Dominican Republic. Owners voted Jan.29 to approve the sale.
The O'Malley family controlled the Dodgers for nearly 48 years before selling to News Corp. in March 1998.
"My family and I are extremely excited to have learned that the closing is official and to have this process behind us so that we may now move forward with our plans," McCourt said in a statement.
"We have a great deal of work ahead of us as we prepare for spring training and the upcoming season. There are several important steps that must be taken and many decisions that must be made."
The most pressing of those decisions involves the general manager. Dan Evans is in the final year of a three-year contract, but McCourt said two weeks ago that Evans was merely a candidate for his job.
McCourt has spoken with Evans, Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro and Athletics assistant GM Paul DePodesta about the job. DePodesta is believed to be the leading candidate.
SCHOTT HOSPITALIZED: Reds minority owner Marge Schott was in a Cincinnati hospital and improving while being treated for breathing problems.
Schott, 75, a longtime smoker, was admitted this week to Christ Hospital. Hospital spokeswoman Pat Samson said Scott was in serious condition but "at this point we feel that she is making progress and doing well."
DONNIE BASEBALL BATS: Don Mattingly, a six-time All-Star with the Yankees, and friend Jim Wells of Oolitic, Ind., have formed Hitting Products, a company that will start producing wooden practice bats in the spring.
The bat, which features a handle that forces the hitter into using the proper grip, was designed for beginning players but will be made for all levels. A portion of the sales will be donated to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.
A'S: Right-hander Chad Bradford settled his arbitration case, agreeing to a $965,000, one-year contract.
D'BACKS: Third baseman Shea Hillenbrand agreed to a $2.6-million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.
PHILLIES: Second baseman Placido Polanco agreed to a $3.95-million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.
TWINS: The team won its arbitration case with left-hander Johan Santana, who will get a raise from $335,000 to $1.6-million instead of $2.45-million. Santana, likely to enter the season as the team's ace, has shuttled between the bullpen and rotation the past two seasons and excelled at both, going 20-9 with a 3.04 ERA in 2662/3 innings.
