Dodgers GM says he's operating with same budgetary guidelines

Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti is operating under the same budgetary guidelines he had before Major League Baseball seized control of the team and said Friday he reports to owner Frank McCourt until an administrator is appointed by commissioner Bud Selig.

Colletti talked with a league official Thursday but declined to identify the person. MLB spokesman Pat Courtney told The Associated Press that Colletti has been in contact with multiple people with the commissioner's office during the past couple days, including Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice-president of labour relations.

“All I know is from the baseball perspective, that we're operating under the same guidelines we were before,” Colletti said before the Dodgers opened a weekend series at Wrigley Field. Asked about the previous instructions, Colletti responded: “Just budgetary guidelines.”

Selig told Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on Wednesday he will appoint a representative to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the club.

Once among baseball's glamour franchises, the Dodgers have been consumed by infighting since Jamie McCourt filed for divorce after 30 years of marriage in October 2009, one week after her husband fired her as the team's chief executive.

Colletti said he wasn't asked about any potential MLB representatives when he talked to the official on Thursday, and no timetable was provided for the appointment.

Asked about his supervisor until the league announces its representative for running the team, Colletti responded: “I still report to Frank.”

Colletti and Frank McCourt have exchanged text messages since the move by Selig, but the notes were updates on transactions and injured players. Colletti said he hasn't talked to him about the situation with MLB, and they aren't scheduled to talk on the phone.

From Colletti to manager Don Mattingly to the players, the emphasis from the baseball-side of the Dodgers has been on the field. The Dodgers beat Atlanta 6-1 hours after the announcement and defeated the Braves again Thursday, 5-3 in 12 innings.

“I think our team is concentrating on the games at hand,” Colletti said. “I've talked to them. Donnie's talked to them. ... They're focused on winning games and that's where their focus should be and that's where we expect their focus to continue to be, as well as Donnie's and mine.”