Major League Baseball is considering a move to seize control of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A person familiar with the league's plans said that MLB "probably" will file a motion to seize the Dodgers, which has been operating under the oversight of a monitor appointed by league commissioner Bud Selig in April. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt won a reprieve in bankruptcy court Tuesday to maintain day-to-day operations. Baseball's constitution allows Selig to take control of a team that seeks Chapter 11 protection, but the league first must file a motion seeking termination of the franchise.

Major League Baseball has objected to the bankruptcy filing by the Los Angeles Dodgers, accusing team owner Frank McCourt of siphoning off more than $100 million in club revenue and driving the Dodgers into a liquidity crisis. Just a few hours later, a Delaware judge granted several routine motions that will allow the team to continue operations. Judge Kevin Gross authorized the Dodgers to continue paying vendors, utility providers and employees, and to keep up with tax and insurance obligations. After granting several of the motions, Gross ordered a 30-minute recess, allowing time for discussions between attorneys for the Dodgers and MLB, which opposes the team's request for authorization to enter into a $150 million financing arrangement. "It's a foregone conclusion that a loan is going to be approved," said Dodgers attorney Bruce Bennett. "We have to decide which one and on what terms."

The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court Monday, blaming Major League Baseball for refusing to approve a multi-billion-dollar television deal that owner Frank McCourt was counting on to keep the troubled team afloat. The Chapter 11 financing permits the Dodgers to use $150 million for daily operations and buys time for the team to seek a media deal and ensure the team's long-term financial stability. A judge would need to approve use of the money and a hearing is set for Tuesday. "There will be no disruption to the Dodgers' day-to-day business, the baseball team, or to the Dodger fans," the team said in a statement.

Lawyers say they will not appeal a judge's order to share interview notes with Roger Clemens' defense team, clearing the way to start the former pitching star's criminal trial on July 6, according to an ESPN.com report on Friday.

The hurdles Frank McCourt will have to clear to keep ownership of the Dodgers are mounting. The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday, citing two sources, that Fox Sports would not support McCourt if he tried to file for bankruptcy and asked a judge to push through a lucrative television deal that was rejected by Major League Baseball. Bud Selig said that the TV deal -- reportedly for up to $3 billion with $385 million upfront -- would "facilitate the further diversion of Dodgers assets for the personal needs of Mr. McCourt" and shot it down this week.

Major League Baseball has rejected a proposed television contract for the Los Angeles Dodgers, putting the future of the team in limbo. The deal has been reported to be worth $3 billion and owner Frank McCourt would receive $385 million upfront. That money was critical to the financial health of the Dodgers. The news comes just days after Frank and Jamie McCourt agreed on a divorce settlement and it nullifies the agreement, sending the McCourts back to the drawing table. "This decision was reached after a full and careful consideration of the terms of the proposed transaction and the club's current circumstances," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "It is my conclusion that this proposed transaction with FOX would not be in the best interests of the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise, the game of Baseball and the millions of loyal fans of this historic club."

Jamie and Frank McCourt have agreed to have a one-day trial to determine if title to the Dodgers is in Frank McCourt's name or if the team should be considered community property in their divorce. The agreement anticipates Major League Baseball's approval of a lengthy TV contract between the Dodgers and Fox, according to Frank McCourt. The deal has been reported to be worth $3 billion and Frank McCourt would receive $385 million upfront. "I fully expect MLB to approve the Fox transaction," Frank McCourt said. "MLB has taken the position that, before they approved the transaction, they wanted to see either a settlement of the divorce, or Jamie's consent, or an order from the judge. Today, they received all three. I fully expect that they will be good to their word, and they'll approve the transaction in a timely way."

A judge on Thursday extended settlement talks in the divorce case of Jamie and Frank McCourt involving ownership of the Dodgers. Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon set a hearing for early Friday to determine if both sides had reached a deal. Gordon initially declared an impasse but rescinded it when attorneys indicated they needed more time. "I think we are close," said lawyer Dennis Wasser, who represents Jamie McCourt. "Hopefully, we can get it done tonight." In December, Gordon deemed a post-nuptial marital agreement invalid. The agreement gave Frank McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers, but Gordon's decision cleared the way for Jamie McCourt to seek half the team under California's community property law. Jamie McCourt had asked Gordon to order the sale of the team and a hearing was set for Wednesday on that request.

Major League Baseball has extended its investigation into the Dodgers beyond the scrutiny of financial documents by soliciting interviews with former team executives, according to three sources. Baseball's investigation is now nearing its conclusion, bringing a possible end to the questions about whether Dodgers owner Frank McCourt will make payroll. McCourt has said the Dodgers' financial fortunes depend upon approval of a proposed long-term television contract with Fox, a deal Commissioner Bud Selig has said he would not consider until the investigation was complete.

In three years, hedge fund manager David Einhorn could gain control of the Mets for $1. Last month Einhorn and New York's owner, Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, came to terms on a deal in which Einhorn would pay $200 million for a one-third stake in the Mets and would have the right to obtain a 60% interest in three years unless Wilpon and Katz returned the $200 million to Einhorn, but allowed the hedge fund manager to retain his 33% ownership. A banker familiar with the deal says the "strike price" for the 60% stake is just $1.