Murdoch Looks Like Next Dodgers Owner

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley confirmed Monday he is negotiating to sell the team to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Group and asked baseball for permission to enter into serious talks.

“We’re in the fifth month of what we expected to be a six-month process,” O’Malley said.

O’Malley, whose family has controlled the Dodgers since 1950, needed the permission of baseball officials before he could share certain financial information with the Fox Group, an affiliate of Murdoch’s News Corp. Among that information is details of baseball’s national television, marketing and licensing deals.

A television source, speaking on the condition he not be identified, told The Associated Press the deal could be announced next week. The price is expected to be $350 million-$400 million.

Any deal would be subject to the approval of baseball owners, which would take several months.