Signed off on divorce settlement

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES -- A Los Angeles judge has ratified a binding agreement between outgoing Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his former wife Jamie McCourt in their divorce case.

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 US$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.