Thursday, October 20, 2011

Colletti Has No Idea How Much He Can Spend, If Any At All

Well, this isn't a good sign as we enter a critical off-season: GM Ned Colletti has no idea what his budget is. How can you shop for goods if you don't know how much money is in your wallet?

Three weeks after saying he had been given a player-payroll budget for next year and hinting that budget might be more than it was in 2011, Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti conceded on Wednesday that figure could change in the wake of a divorce settlement reached earlier this week by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his estranged wife, former Dodger chief executive officer Jamie McCourt.

Under terms of the settlement, Jamie McCourt disavows any claim to ownership of the club and Frank McCourt must pay her $130 million.

"I don't think (the budget) is ever really set in stone,'' said Colletti, who was watching several of the Dodgers' top prospects compete in the Arizona Fall League. "You start out with a basic idea to get you started and adjust as need be. I have a basic idea, always knowing that it could be adjusted either way.''

Colletti didn't specifically address potential ways, if any, in which the budget could be directly impacted by either the settlement or a bankruptcy court hearing scheduled to begin on Oct. 31 that could determine Frank McCourt's ability to maintain ownership of the franchise.

Colletti also said he has had a couple of conversations with Dave Stewart, the agent for Dodgers center fielder and National League Most Valuable Player candidate Matt Kemp, but that no serious talks are under way as of yet on a possible contract extension for Kemp, who could become a free agent after next season if the Dodgers don't lock him up with a long-term deal.

Criminy, Bud, pull the plug on this circus and get this right. If the Dodgers end up pissing away an opportunity to lock Matt Kemp (let alone get some bats back in the lineup), Dodger fans will do more than just stay away in droves, as they did this year. They'll come back...with torches and pitchforks.

2 comments:

Kyle Baker said...

" How can you shop for goods if you don't know how much money is in your wallet?"

Mrs Dusty has the answer.

Jason said...

But Ned doesn't have a sugar daddy like Mrs. Dusty does.