Dodgers President Reassures Fans Amid Investigation

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten asserted that the MLB team is not being sold during a press conference at Dodger Stadium on Friday. Kasten was responding to speculation surrounding the federal investigation of controlling owner Mark Walter, who is under scrutiny for reported loan debts and the recent sale of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“The Dodgers are not being sold,” Kasten stated firmly. “They’re not gonna be sold. They’re not for sale. There’s no process that has been started to sell it, period. We are planning only to win.” This declaration echoes his previous comments from 10 days ago, maintaining that the unfolding investigation is more relevant to the Lakers than to the Dodgers.

Kasten expressed a high level of trust in Walter, assuring fans that the Dodgers are stable and well-managed. “We have very solid ownership,” he added. Kasten emphasized that speculation connecting the Lakers’ sale and the Dodgers is misguided. “Sometimes it’s gotten silly, OK? It’s gotten silly,” he remarked. “We have to observe the process.”

Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, is reportedly facing an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Recent reports detailed that two of his companies, Delaware Life Insurance Company and its affiliate, Clear Spring Life and Annuity, are currently being examined for possible financial irregularities.

Kasten again insisted that the Dodgers are unaffected by Walter’s situation. “The Dodgers stand on their own pretty well,” he reiterated, even as the team prepares for the 2026 season with a payroll exceeding $517 million.

Kasten also addressed the connection between Walter’s financial dealings and a $4.1 million loan to Dodger Tickets LLC, related to ticketing operations. He stated that the loan is nearly paid off, alleviating concerns about its impact on the team.

“Guys, there’s so much about finance, right?” Kasten explained. “I promise you, you don’t understand how all of that works. But these things happen routinely with all businesses, right?”

Looking to the future, Kasten projected confidence in the organization, declaring, “I can tell you from the guy running the team, knowing how the business runs and what it can support in terms of revenues and expenses — the Dodgers aren’t going anywhere.” He emphasized that Walter holds a deep personal commitment to the team, underscoring its significance to him.