Ownership Status
Mark Walter’s representatives have repeatedly stated that the Dodgers are not for sale. Stan Kasten, the club’s president, reiterated this position on Friday, describing the team as the “crown jewel” of Walter’s sporting empire. The statement comes amid a federal probe into Walter’s insurance companies and a cash crunch that has prompted speculation about his future as owner.
Potential Bidders
If Walter were to put the Dodgers on the market, a long list of interested parties could emerge. An industry insider told the Los Angeles Times that the franchise could command a price between $10 billion and $13 billion, a figure that would dwarf the record sale price for a major-league team. Among the potential bidders is Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, who finished second in the 2012 bidding process.
Valuation Estimates
The $10-$13 billion range reflects the highest end of the valuation spectrum for a major-league franchise. For comparison, the record sale price for a major-league team was $3.9 billion when the San Diego Padres were sold last week. The highest valuation for any North American sports team was $12.5 billion, the price paid for the Los Angeles Lakers in a recent sale to a group fronted by former Disney chief Bob Iger and venture capitalist Joshua Kushner.
Background of Soon-Shiong
Patrick Soon-Shiong, a biotech billionaire who bought the Los Angeles Times in 2018, was a co-bidder with hedge-fund titan Steve Cohen in 2012. Walter and his partners won the bid at $2.15 billion, well above the $1.6 billion offered by Soon-Shiong and Cohen. In 2020, Cohen purchased the New York Mets for $2.4 billion. Soon-Shiong has also held a 4 % stake in the Lakers since 2010, when he acquired Magic Johnson’s share, and has explored ownership of other Los Angeles sports franchises, including the Angels in 2022.
Current Position
Through a representative, Soon-Shiong said he would be willing to lead an investment group should Walter decide to sell. “We respect Mr. Walter, and we want to make it clear we have not spoken with him,” Chuck Kenworthy, the family attorney for Soon-Shiong, told the Times. “If at some point he would like to discuss the Dodgers, we would be very open to talking.”
The Dodgers’ ownership status remains unchanged, but the combination of a federal investigation and financial pressure on Walter’s businesses has kept the possibility of a sale in the public eye.
