As the McCourts Turn

Divorce is a something that usually effects young people. Granted, divorce can happen at any age, but it is personified greatly when it involves a multi-million dollar Major League Baseball franchise.

Frank McCourt owns the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shortly before the beginning of the National League Championship Series, news broke that he and his bride, Jamie, were going to divorce.

Not a big deal for a blue-collar mom and dad, but a huge deal for the owners of a baseball team.

Forbes estimated the Dodgers' worth to be $722 million in April 2009.

This separation is likely to adversely effect the Dodgers' abilities come this off-season.

Take the San Diego Padres, for instance. Former Padres' owner, John Moores, announced he was divorcing his wife, which prompted the Padres to make a lot of cost-cutting moves.

The Padres didn't sign any big-name free agents before last season, traded their ace at the end of July in Jake Peavy and did not re-sign the face of the franchise -- Trevor Hoffman -- who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. They also toyed with trading their best player, Adrian Gonzalez, who is extremely cost-effective for the next two seasons: $4.75 million in 2010 and $5.5 million in 2011. If Gonzalez were to hit the free agent market right now, he'd likely command a contract of $18-20 million annually for no less than five years.

The Padres were eventually sold to Jeff Moorad's investment group.

Point being, the McCourt's divorce proceedings will hamper the Dodgers. There won't be any ace starting pitchers signed (John Lackey); there won't be a lot of salary to take on from trades (Roy Halladay); there won't be a whole lot different from the current roster.

Frank McCourt has already been criticized for being cheap in the past. With him having to possibly give half of his estate to his soon-to-be ex-wife, there is absolutely not way he's going to take a lot of salary.

When McCourt bought the team in 2004, a similar situation presented itself. The Dodgers were all set to sign the biggest free agent on the market that winter -- Vladimir Guererro -- but with the FOX ownership group in the process of selling the team, the Dodgers had to hold off on any big signings.

Guererro ended up signing with the Anaheim Angels, the Dodgers' regional American League Rival. All Guererro ended up doing in 2004 was leading the Angels to the playoffs and winning the AL Most Valuable Player award.

It's unfortunate the McCourts will not put the good of the team before their personal squabbles. If they had any decency, they'd sell the team as soon as possible and leave the personal issues for the courts to decide.

So, it will definitely be an interesting in La La Land. The Dodgers will have to go the way of the Pittsburgh Pirates or Kansas City Royals to get anything done this off-season.

I'm not getting my hopes up for any big moves, but stranger things have happened. Maybe the McCourts will get wise to the situation, sell the team and save the Dodger fans from a winter of drama.

Not likely.