A bronze statue depicting the Hall of Famer was unveiled Friday in the Dominican Republic, the team announced.

The statue stands at the ‘Paseo de los Immortales’ in La Romana.

Lasorda, 84, serves as Special Advisor to the Chairman of the Dodgers and has worked for the team for six decades.

Lasorda has longstanding ties to Latin America as he spent three seasons in the Dominican Republic.

In 1997, Lasorda was elected to the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame.

He is a founding member of the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame and serves as their Goodwill Ambassador, according to the team.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

The 2011 National League Cy Young winner requested $10 million per season from the Dodgers.

Gallery: Kershaw’s Dominating Season

Kershaw will receive a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $7.5 million this season and $11 million in 2013.

The 23-year-old went 21-5 last season, while earning $500,000.

Kushner is married to Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Donald.

According to the Times, the 31-year-old was born into a prominent real estate family in New York,  and in 2006, became owner and publisher of the New York Observer.

There are at least nine confirmed ownership groups that have advanced to the second round of bidding for the storied franchise.

Stow and his family sued the Dodgers in California state court, then filed the claim with the federal court in July, weeks after owner Frank McCourt put the team in bankruptcy.

“The Stow claim is, when stripped to its core, based on the faulty premise that a landowner is an insurer of the safety of persons on its property,” the Dodgers said in a 37-page motion filed with U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross.

Stow sustained a severe brain injury when he was attacked after the Dodgers’ home opener against the Giants on March 31. He was hospitalized until October, then moved to a rehabilitation facility.

Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood were charged in the attack, which police described as the culmination of a string of confrontations they had with randomly selected Giants fans at the stadium.

The Dodgers said there were 442 security personnel in the ballpark and parking lots that day, including police. The team said that was an increase from 398 for the 2010 opener and 308 for the first home game in 2009.

“Stow cannot prove any link between the additional security related steps that Stow contends the debtors should have taken and his injuries,” the Dodgers said in a statement. “Stow cannot show that anything about the security personnel staffing on opening day caused his injuries and, furthermore, the security staffing at the game greatly exceeded all requirements of California state law.”

In addition, the Dodgers said the team “had no knowledge of any inappropriate conduct by Stow’s assailants prior to the time that Stow sustained his injuries and, as a matter of law, are not liable for failure to anticipate criminal acts of third parties.”

Stow’s lawyer, Thomas Girardi, did not respond to a telephone message and an email seeking comment.

The 31-year-old appeared in 69 games last season for the Washington Nationals and posted an ERA of 3.62.

Coffey will be counted on primarily in middle relief in 2012.

A person familiar with one of the group’s plans said its meeting had been scheduled for next week and the group will have the opportunity to ask questions and further investigate finances as it prepares for the second round of bidding.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the groups had been asked not to speak publicly.

Although no date has been set for the second round of bids, the person said it appears it will be around the start of March.

Current Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who placed the team in bankruptcy last year, signed an agreement with Major League Baseball saying he would select the new owner by April and close a sale by April 30, which coincides with the date he is due to give former wife Jamie a $131 million divorce settlement.

Steven Cohen of the hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors separately is in the process of buying a $20 million non-controlling share of the New York Mets, who are trying to raise $200 million to pay down debt. Cohen is one of the Dodgers’ bidders and his investment in the Mets began before the Dodgers were put up for sale.

A Mets investment would not preclude him from buying a controlling stake in the Dodgers. Under baseball’s rules, if he took over the Dodgers he eventually would have to sell the Mets shares.

His contemplated investment in the Mets was first reported Wednesday by the Los Angeles Times.

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — DUI charges will not be filed against Dodgers first baseman James Loney in connection to a November crash on the 101 Freeway, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.

Loney, 27, was arrested on Nov. 14 for driving under the influence. He was allegedly driving his 2009 Maserati when he sideswiped several cars on the Ventura Freeway in Sherman Oaks.

First responders say Loney’s behavior was unusual and that he appeared to be unconscious or intoxicated. He was arrested at the scene and taken to a local hospital where drug and alcohol samples tested negative.

The district attorney declined to file charges based on insufficient evidence.

Loney later apologized for the accident.

That would be the Magic Johnson-Stan Kasten group.

Full CBS Sports article

(CBS ) — CBS2 has learned that Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt believes he might fetch $2 billion for the franchise.

Approximately 12 groups submitted bids by Monday’s deadline, with our sources telling us that it appears Mark Cuban and Dennis Gilbert will not advance to the next round of bidding.

Our sources say Steve Cohen, Rick Caruso/Joe Torre, Magic Johnson/Steve Kasten, Mark Utay/Leo Hindery, Stan Kroenke and Peter O’Malley are in the next round.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

NEW YORK (AP) — Frank McCourt has started to cut the number of bidders seeking to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A person affiliated with one of the groups said Friday that the group was notified it will be advancing to the second round. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no public statements were authorized.

The person said the group was not told what other groups had made the first cut.

Approximately 12 groups submitted initial bids by Monday’s deadline.

The Dodgers said in a statement that their financial adviser, Blackstone Group, is “notifying all of the bidders as to which ones will and which ones will not advance in the sales process.”

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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Among the bidders were Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and former YES Network chief executive officer Leo Hindery, two people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the bids were to remain confidential.

One of the people also confirmed a Los Angeles Times report that Stan Kroenke was involved in the bidding. Kroenke already controls the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Arsenal of the English Premier League and Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids.

Hindery’s bid, made with Marc Utay, was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Bidders said they were waiting to hear from Blackstone Group, which is representing McCourt, what the next step in the process will be. Blackstone may ask Major League Baseball to conduct due diligence on up to 10 bidders, with each chosen group paying MLB $25,000 to cover baseball’s costs.

McCourt is to pick his chosen owner by early April, with Major League Baseball approving the sale in time for a transfer by April 30, the day McCourt must pay former wife Jamie a $131 million divorce settlement.

Some of the other groups include former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson, former Dodgers manager Joe Torre, former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley and former agent Dennis Gilbert.

From Forbes magazine: ” A person familiar with the bidding says that given the initial offers being reviewed by Blackstone, the team’s investment bank, owner Frank McCourt will be able set a minimum price of $1.5 billion for the next round.”

Bidders who have fallen below the minimum $1.5 billion bid may still submit a new bid.

The Dodgers are believed to have received at least 20 bids on Monday, not including Time Warner or Fox Sports.

According to Forbes, ESPN may get involved in the bidding because of the valuable television rights.

The Houston Astros recently sold for $680 million, as did the Chicago Cubs for an estimated $845 million.

Lincecum filed for a one-year, $21.5 million deal, the Giants countered at $17.5 million for one-year.

The agreement allows both sides to avoid an arbitration hearing that could have set an arbitration contract record.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is currently negotiating with the Dodgers, the 2011 Cy Young winner could end up at an arbitration hearing if the southpaw and the club can’t agree to a new extension.

(CBS) – Former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley has submitted one of the more than 10 bids for ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday’s “soft” deadline.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that other bidders include:  Steven Cohen, Mark Cuban, Stan Kasten/Magic Johnson, Rick Caruso/Joe Torre, Stanley Gold (Disney), Dennis Gilbert and Jason Reese/Randy Wooster.

Our sources told CBS2,  “There was more than double the amount of 10 bids submitted to buy the Dodgers.”

Current owner Frank McCourt will get the final say in who buys the franchise by April 1st, but Major League Baseball will approve a list of 10 bidders for McCourt to accept.  A sale must be finalized by April 30th.

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Opening bids for prospective buyers of the Los Angeles Dodgers are due Monday.

Blackstone, the firm handling the sale for owner Frank McCourt, expects to receive as many as 20 bids from the likes of Magic Johnson, Rick Caruso and former team manager Joe Torre, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Each bid has a $25,000 fee.

But as KNX 1070′s Jon Baird reports, the team will likely end up in the hands of a less-than-famous owner.

“For the most part, big names don’t win,” said CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell. “Money’s gonna matter, not names.”

After the first round of bids, the group will be reduced to 10 prospective buyers.

Experts predict the team, Dodger Stadium and related assets could sell for $1.5 billion.

McCourt has final say on the new owner and has agreed to select the winning bidder by April 1.

In a court ruling last week, the team listed $573 million in debt — a number Rovell said that could potentially still turn into a profit for McCourt.

“Now that there looks to be legit bidders on a premium property, that’s possible, believe it or not,” he said.

McCourt bought the team in 2004 for $430 million.

The Dodgers will open the 2012 season on April 5.

According to Jayson Stark’s column on ESPN.com on Friday, the Dodgers will be big spenders in the future.

From  ESPN.com

“Next year this time, the Dodgers will be THE team calling up every marquee free agent.  They’re going to have serious money.  They’ll be the Yankees West.” This quote is from an unnamed NL executive.

Some potential 2013 free agents include:

1B- Lance Berkman – unrestricted

SS- Stephen Drew — ($10MM mutual option with a $1.35MM buyout)

3B – David Wright  -($16MM club option with a $1MM buyout)

OF – Josh Hamilton – unrestricted

OF – B.J. Upton – unrestricted

OF – Shane Victorino — unrestricted

OF – Andre Ethier — unrestricted

OF – Ichiro — unrestricted

SP – Matt Cain – unrestricted

SP – Zack Greinke – unrestricted

SP – Cole Hamels — unrestricted

On Friday morning, Kershaw stopped by the NYSE to watch the markets open.

“Its been exciting,  I never thought I would get to come to the stock exchange floor and I’m excited to be here,” Kershaw told MLB.com.

The Dodgers filed their plan Friday in bankruptcy court in Delaware, saying the sale of the team should satisfy all creditor claims in full, either through cash payments or assumption of the claims by the new owners.

The team is asking for a Feb. 22 court hearing for court approval of the statement outlining the reorganization plan and the process for creditors to vote on it.

The Dodgers sought bankruptcy protection in June after baseball Commissioner Bud Selig rejected a new TV deal with Fox that team owner Frank McCourt was counting on in order to make payroll and keep the franchise solvent.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon on Thursday signed off on the settlement reached in November that calls for Frank McCourt to pay his ex-wife $131 million by the end of April.

Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball agreed late last year that the Dodgers and the team’s media rights would be sold. The team filed for bankruptcy protection in June after the league rejected a television contract with Fox.

Among those who have expressed interest in buying the Dodgers is a group that includes former manager Joe Torre and another group with ex-Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The 2011 Cy Young award winner submitted his proposal, with the team countering with a $6.5 million offer.

Both Kershaw and the team were required to submit proposals as part of the of salary arbirtration process.

The 2011 Cy Young winner earned $500,000 last season.

Kershaw is not eligible to become a free-agent until  2015.

Ethier agreed at $10.95 million and Loney at $6,375,000.

Either was coming off a $15.25 million, two-year contract that paid him $9.25 million last season, when he hit .292 with 11 homers and 62 RBIs and earned his first Gold Glove in the outfield. The two-time All-star had a 30-game hitting streak early in the season but was bothered by a right knee injury and had surgery in September.

He also can earn $50,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 600 and 625 plate appearances. He is eligible for free agency after this season, as is Loney.

Loney made $4,875,000 last year, when he struggled early before having a solid second half. The first baseman hit .288 with 12 homers and 65 RBIs.

Loney was arrested in November on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after his Maserati hit three cars on a Los Angeles freeway, although no charges have been filed.

The 36-year-old sepnt four seasons with the Dodgers after moving to the United States from Japan.

Last season he posted a career-low 3.03 ERA.

Selig has held the position since 1992, first as acting commissioner and then as commissioner since 1998. He will turn 80 in July 2014.

If he stays until September 2016, he would surpass Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1920-44) as the longest-serving baseball commissioner.

Selig’s contract had been due to expire this Dec. 31.

After owners approved the extension Thursday Selig said he was “very humbled by the request to stay on.”

Selig repeatedly has said since 2006 that his retirement is imminent but also admits almost no one believes him.

Owners deferred a vote on the proposed transfer of the San Diego Padres from John Moores to Jeff Moorad, saying they needed more financial information.

Hawksworth is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks. A team spokesman said Wednesday that Hawksworth should be ready to pitch sometime during spring training and could be on Los Angeles’ opening-day roster.

The right-hander was 2-5 with a 4.08 ERA in 49 relief appearances last season. Hawksworth experienced discomfort in the back of his elbow when he started his offseason throwing program early last month. He was shut down, but when he resumed throwing a couple of weeks ago, the discomfort was still there.

The operation was performed in Los Angeles.