The Chattanooga Lookouts have operated smoothly in recent months despite the chaos that has sullied the parent Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Dodgers being sold Tuesday night to a group containing Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten was welcome news.
“We’ve had such a great relationship with the Dodgers and absolutely expect that to continue,” Lookouts general manager Rich Mozingo said Wednesday. “We think it’s good for the organization to bring in a baseball guy like Stan Kasten and a marketer and such a vibrant personality as Magic Johnson. Hopefully our relationship will continue to grow and prosper under the new ownership, and we expect that it will.”
The Lookouts, who open their 2012 season next Thursday against the Tennessee Smokies at AT&T Field, are in their fourth year as Class AA affiliates of the Dodgers. Los Angeles and Chattanooga have a player development agreement that runs through the 2014 season.
Dodgers player development director De Jon Watson declined comment on the sale, adding that general manager Ned Colletti is better suited to discuss the transaction.
The Dodgers have been embarrassed in recent months by the venomous divorce between current owner Frank McCourt and his ex-wife, Jamie. The proud franchise has been in decline financially and filed for bankruptcy protection last year.