McCourt says he will make Dodgers payroll

Frank McCourt has told baseball officials that he expects to meet the Dodgers' payroll next week, Bill Shaikin reports in the L.A. Times based on "three people briefed on the matter." He's been right all along on McCourt disclosures. If McCourt can cover the payroll, he will avoid exposure to baseball's apparent desire to force a sale of the team. From the LAT:

McCourt needs about $9.8 million to meet the May 31 payroll, said a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the potential for litigation. McCourt could obtain at least some of that money by accelerating payments the Dodgers were due later this season, one of the people briefed on the matter said.

The amount of money needed to meet payroll will increase in June, when the Dodgers must pay Manny Ramirez more than $6 million in deferred compensation, according to two people familiar with the Ramirez contract. The payroll comes due on June 15 and 30, with the Ramirez payment slated for June 30, one of the people said.