Dodgers file for bankruptcy protection

Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection Monday in an effort to restructure its debt, court documents showed. The petition was filed in Delaware by the Los Angeles Dodgers Holding Company under Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code. It lists debts to current and former players including retired star Manny Ramirez, who is owed more than $20 million. The move comes as MLB officials had threatened to take over the team if owner Frank McCourt could not meet the Dodgers' payroll. McCourt said in a statement that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's refusal to approve a television deal with Fox was the cause for the Chapter 11 filing. Selig has rejected a proposal under which Fox would have loaned about $200 million to McCourt, who would use the Dodgers' cable television rights as collateral. "We brought the commissioner a media rights deal that would have solved the cash flow challenge... Yet he's turned his back on the Dodgers, treated us differently, and forced us to the point we find ourselves in today," McCourt said. "I simply cannot allow the commissioner to knowingly and intentionally be in a position to expose the Dodgers to financial risk any longer. It is my hope that the Chapter 11 process will create a fair and constructive environment to get done what we couldn't achieve with the commissioner directly." The team plans to continue operations with $150 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing. "This financing will enable the Dodger organization to fully meet its obligations going forward. There will be no disruption," the statement said. Among the other debts to players includes $11 million owed to Andruw Jones and $4.4 million owed to Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. Vin Scully, the team's play-by-play announcer is owed $150,000. Because of his mounting financial difficulties McCourt has been getting loans to keep the team afloat. His problems were expected to come to a head this Thursday when a $30 million payroll is due. Another $67 million loan taken out against the Dodger's parking lot is also set to come due on Thursday. The once-proud Dodgers sit barely above last place in their division and are in danger of missing the playoffs. Manager Don Mattingly said before Monday night's game against the Minnesota Twins that the soap opera surrounding the team, and involving former husband and wife owners Frank and Jamie, hasn't been a distaction to the players. "I know there is a lot going on and a lot of talk about it," Mattingly said. "To say that's changed us not getting a hit with men in scoring position, or making a pitch with a guy in scoring position, or any of that -- I think it's just not true. "I'm sure guys chat about it a little bit, but I really believe none of that has an effect on the outcome of our games."