2012 MLB Free Agency: How Mark Cuban Buying the Dodgers Would Impact Offseason

If the Los Angeles Dodgers are currently at the low point in the franchise's long and illustrious history then would it be outrageous to suggest that it's fortunes could be dramatically altered in an abrupt reversal of fortune? 

Enter Mark Cuban? The outspoken, sometimes outlandish and indisputably successful owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks could be a serious candidate to enter into the bidding war to buy the officially "for sale" Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Mark Cuban entering the field of Major League Baseball ownership would be one of the biggest—if not the biggest story of the 2011-2012 offseason. His presence as an owner would have an instant impact not just on the Dodgers franchise but on baseball as a whole. 

It's as close to Ari Gold buying an NFL franchise in HBO's " Entourage" as Major League Baseball could hope for (that is if the owners are actually "hoping" he buys the Dodgers). Cuban, who bought the Dallas Mavericks in 2000, has been one of the NBA's most outspoken and colorful owners. He's openly clashed with NBA officials, the commissioner and other owners. He's also rejuvenated a Mavericks franchise which has been to two NBA finals with one title to its name since the purchase. 

Cuban is not a typical NBA owner and he wouldn't be a typical MLB owner either. Yes he's got the requisite billionaire bank account but he's not nearly the buttoned up corporate type that is typically associated with major sports' franchise ownership. Cuban, who made his billions at a very young age by selling his company Broadcast.com to Yahoo in 1999 at the age of 41, is not known for subscribing to the well-traveled road of corporate double talk and typical low-risk talking points. 

That hasn't always made his NBA owner peers happy, but Cuban clearly could care less. What does he care about? Winning. He's been quite open about his desire to bring a title to Dallas since he bought the team and while every owner always claims they want to win Cuban's effort and commitment are tough to question.

He changed the culture of losing in Dallas almost instantly by renovating the training facilities and locker rooms. He crafted first-class facilities to draw first-class talent. While Dallas has only won one title they've been a perennial postseason presence and their attendance has been very good as well. Cuban is in the stands for most Mavericks games home and away. He travels with his team frequently as his one of the most visibly approachable owners in all of major sports.

So how would this impact the Dodgers? It couldn't possibly hurt. The Dodgers are at the low point in what is one of the most highly decorated histories of any major professional sports franchise in America. It's safe to say that Dodger Stadium would be getting some form of makeover. It's also a safe bet that the current free-agency market would be dramatically impacted as well.

Cuban will spend money to make the Dodgers better. That doesn't mean that he'd throw an outrageous amount of money at Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols because Cuban is well aware that sports are rarely won or lost on the backs on one great player. He's also likely aware that the Dodgers have two players in Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp who will in all likelihood command massive contract extensions in the next few years.

While Pujols may be too pricey, a guy like Prince Fielder may not. Sabathia is no longer available, but C.J. Wilson is going to be. Is Javy Guerra the closer of the future, or can Cuban—with his charisma and all of Los Angeles' inherent selling points—coerce someone like Heath Bell to leave San Diego?

The offseason will get more interesting the instant that Cuban enters the fray. Every major free agent will likely hear from the Dodgers. Cuban won't sign them all, but he will sign some of them and he'll drive the price up on others.

The odds are that right about now the New York Yankees are quietly rejoicing that they got Sabathia locked up this past Monday, because CC on the open market and Cuban with an open checkbook could have been the perfect storm the Yankees were dreading when they agreed to the preemptive contract extension. 

One thing is certain: Cuban tends to move fairly quickly. He already expressed interest in the team, but balked at paying a price tag of $1 billion. With McCourt desperately in need of money and MLB desperately in need of ridding the Dodgers of McCourt, this may be a perfect storm for Cuban. He could land the Dodgers at a price low enough for him to spend the money needed following the purchase to dramatically alter the current downward trajectory of the team.

Cuban owning the Dodgers would be great news for Dodger fans, great news for baseball fans and potentially upsetting news for the Los Angeles Angels and Bud Selig, who is used to a group of owners that operate in relative obscurity with discretion and very few public outbursts. That's not Cuban. But then again, that's not necessarily a bad thing.