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Dodgers ownership denies team is for sale amid fraud investigation rumors
ReDodgers ownership denies team is for sale amid fraud investigation rumors
Dodgers president Stan Kasten says the team is not for sale and that an investigation into owner Mark Walter's business dealings does not involve the franchise.
The Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group is pushing back against a wave of online speculation that the team's spending has been funded by fraud, with team president Stan Kasten insisting the franchise is not for sale and that an ongoing investigation into one of its owners has nothing to do with the ballclub.
Kasten addressed the rumors over the weekend, responding directly to questions about whether Mark Walter, the Dodgers' largest single owner, might be forced to sell his stake in the team. Walter is currently under investigation for allegedly mishandling insurance company investments, with reports suggesting that at least $16 billion in loans are being examined. Several companies reportedly used investor funds to make loans to businesses also under Walter's control, and those investments were not properly disclosed to investors.
Despite the scale of the investigation, Kasten was unequivocal about the team's future. "I wanted to make sure everyone understood one thing very clearly: The Dodgers are not being sold," Kasten said. "They're not gonna be sold. They're not for sale. There's no process that has been started to sell it, period. We are planning only to win. That is what we are always doing. And we are still continuing to do that."
Kasten also addressed questions about Walter selling the Los Angeles Lakers after just a year of ownership, calling that situation "sui generis" and unrelated to the Dodgers. "This comes from Mark," Kasten added. "He's gung-ho about continuing to try to win."
The controversy began after reports surfaced about Walter's business dealings, and social media quickly connected those reports to the Dodgers' massive payroll. ESPN reporter Jeff Passan became the target of a days-long harassment campaign from fans demanding he comment on the situation. The speculation has been fueled by the Dodgers' status as Major League Baseball's richest team, with estimates suggesting the club spent nearly 75% of its total revenue on player payroll in 2025.
Kasten acknowledged the investigation but stressed that the team is not part of it. "I'm promising you, when it's over, you're going to realize [some things being reported] are being mischaracterized," he said. "You don't have to trust me, but I'm telling you."
One of the supposed "controversies" cited by online critics involves a reported loan from Delaware Life, a company Walter controls, to Dodgers Tickets LLC. The loan was listed as "unaffiliated" even though both businesses involve Walter. However, the loan was for just $4.1 million, an amount that represents a rounding error on the Dodgers' balance sheet, and it has already been paid off. For comparison, the team spent $4 million this year to buy out Chris Taylor's contract after the player left Major League Baseball.
Kasten also pushed back on the idea that Walter would use fraudulent funds to enrich the team rather than himself. If Walter were improperly funneling money to the Dodgers, the argument goes, he would be spending it on player salaries rather than pocketing the profits, which critics acknowledge is what has happened. The Dodgers reportedly exceeded $1 billion in revenue, and even if their television deal with Spectrum were cut in half from $330 million to $165 million, the team would still report at least $835 million in revenue.
Whether the clarification will quiet the online outrage remains to be seen. Kasten, who works directly with Walter on day-to-day operations, reiterated that the investigation has nothing to do with the team. "I understand the questions, I do," he said. "But as I said to you last time we met, the Lakers thing was what we lawyers call 'sui generis.' It was just one of those one-of-a-kind things that really has nothing to do with what's happening with us."
