Werner: Not interested in buying Dodgers

By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com

BOSTON -- For months, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner has been mentioned in baseball circles as a potential buyer of the Los Angeles Dodgers should the franchise be put up for sale as a result of the messy divorce between current owners Frank and Jamie McCourt.

But Werner, who still owns a home in southern California and splits his time between the L.A. area and Boston, insisted Tuesday that he won't be a bidder.

"I'm not interested in exploring that posibility," said Werner before leaving for London. "I'm having a great time in my role here."

Before partnering with John Henry in 2002 to purchase the Red Sox from the Yawkey Estate, Werner owned the San Diego Padres in the 1990s.

Werner is close with commissioner Bud Selig. Asked at the World Series if he would like to see Werner involved should the Dodgers be auctioned off, Selig first emphasized that any speculation about a franchise transfer was premature. He then smiled and said: "But I like Tom a great deal."

Werner, however, has enjoyed his time in Boston, where, given his extensive TV background, he also oversees the running of NESN. Further, Werner has been heavily involved in Fenway Sports Group's purchase of the Liverpool soccer team, which he termed "a new and exciting challenge."