Even the Dodgers can retain their own players!

With the announcing of the 8 year, $160 million dollar extension between OF Matt Kemp and the Los Angles Dodgers, many were wondering how this is possible. I can hear the comments now. Well... owner Frank McCourt doesn't have enough money to run his baseball team. He is getting help from Major League Baseball to make monthly payroll payments. What about the divorce? He doesn't have enough money to add payroll and give out contracts.
One of the most hated owners in professional sports just gained some respect from me. He has to deal with these serious financial problems and most of it is his own fault. No excuse for using the team's revenue to pay personal expenses. And just as easily as he used those profits for his own stuff, he could have put the future of the Dodgers payroll on hold. And though fans wouldn't like it, it would be understood that he simply could not afford it. But he didn't. Though he gets respect for making this signing, he simply just did his job. It would have looked bad (even from McCourt's standards) to let Kemp walk after this season. Next he has to lock up Clayton Kershaw. If he does that, he would have done his job as owner. I understand the Dodgers need some help in a couple areas: catcher, bullpen, 2B,3B. They did finish strong at the end of 2011, and the Kemp signing sends the right message to the organization. Assuming Kershaw eventually gets extended, they will have their two best players locked up as the rest of the team comes together. I can't say the same about a certain team I follow. And apparently they're not in as big of a mess as the Dodgers. But its ok, I got the rest of the offseason to bitch about that.