Dodgers president shuts down sale rumors after Mark Walter’s $12.5B Lakers deal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers president Stan Kasten attempted to calm online speculation about the future of the franchise under billionaire owner Mark Walter on Friday.

"The Dodgers are not being sold. They’re not for sale. There’s no process that has been started to sell it, period,” he told reporters on the field before the team's game against Pittsburgh. “We are planning only to win.”

The conjecture began earlier this month with Walter agreeing to a stunning sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record-breaking price of $12.5 billion, according to a person familiar with the terms who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Walter bought a controlling stake in the franchise from the Buss family last year.

“I can’t tell you how important the Dodgers are to Mark,” Kasten said. "The Lakers thing? The Lakers were important to him too, but it’s kind of an extraordinary opportunity, which he took.”

Multiple media outlets last month reported that Walter’s business empire is under scrutiny from both federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission in tax fraud investigations. Walter is cooperating with the investigation.

“I know nothing involving the Dodgers is part of the investigation," Kasten said, declining to go into specifics.

The 66-year-old Walter is based in Chicago, where he is CEO of Guggenheim Partners. He has overseen a run of success for the Dodgers that includes three World Series championships in six seasons and a penchant for lavishing big-money contracts on players like four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani.

"I think Mark has done an extraordinary job as an owner,” Kasten said, “and all he’s ever cared about is providing the best experience in order to make us more money, to make this project successful. I think so far it has been, I expect that to continue far into the future.”

Kasten also said Walter is not exploring any sales of his other sports properties, which include the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, the Professional Women's Hockey League and TWG Motorsports.

Walter typically shuns the spotlight, preferring to stay behind the scenes and have Kasten or other team executives make public statements.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here