Dodgers have "no chance" to make June 30 payroll

Frank McCourt has been playing a dangerous game when it comes to the Dodgers' payroll lately - staving off one potential disaster by getting an advance on some of the team's sponsorship deals to cover the June 1 payroll.

Now the L.A. Times is reporting that while McCourt is expected to be able to cut checks for the upcoming June 15 payroll, don't expect it to happen at the end of the month.

The Dodgers owe about $10 million in payroll Wednesday, according to one of the people, but that figure roughly triples for the June 30 payment as several deferred salaries come due, including more than $8 million to Manny Ramirez. 

The Dodgers appear to have "no chance" to meet the June 30 payroll without a cash infusion from a new television contract, according to a person familiar with McCourt's finances but not authorized to discuss them. If McCourt misses payroll, Selig could make the payments for him, seize the team and put it up for sale.

We posted about the Manny Ramirez payment and how it could affect McCourt's ability to hold on to the team earlier on Monday. To add to McCourt's struggle, his attorneys spent nine hours on Monday attempting to negotiate a divorce settlement with attorneys for his estranged wife, Jamie. Likely any settlement would be contingent upon a June 22 hearing in which McCourt will ask a judge to allow the team to sign a $285 million television contract extension with Fox.

Major League Baseball has been overseeing the team with the constant threat looming that McCourt could be forced to sell. If ownership does fail to make payroll at the end of the month, it could force Bud Selig's hand. Dodger fans are hoping that Mark Cuban's current good mood will make him amenable to making an offer on the team. Either way, it looks like McCourt's running out of outs.