Los Angeles Dodgers: Immediate Moves the Next Owners Should Make

With Frank McCourt agreeing to sell the Dodgers today, whatever new ownership group buys the team will have its work cut out for it.

So what moves will make the Dodgers competitive and, perhaps more importantly, put butts back into seats next season?

Sign Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw to Contract Extensions

This should be done immediately. Kemp may not win the MVP over Ryan Braun this year, but in my book, he is the more deserving candidate.

Player	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OBP	OPS	SLG	WAR
Matt Kemp	115	39	126	40	.324	.399	.986	.586	10.0
Ryan Braun	109	33	111	33	.332	.397	.994	.597	7.7

Both players are the same age (27), and Braun inked an extension this year for five years and $105 million that locks him up until 2020. The Dodgers should offer Kemp a similar deal while they can—Kemp is slated to become a free agent after the 2012 season and has already said he won't negotiate during the season.

And if that season is like his 2011, well, he may look to become the highest-paid player in baseball not named Alex Rodriguez.

There is less onus on resigning Kershaw to a contract-extension at the moment since he is arbitration-eligible for the next three seasons, though he most certainly will be making a whole lot more than $500,000 next year.

Bring a Prince to Los Angeles

While we're throwing money around, why not throw some at Prince Fielder?

He's a big bat that will offer protection for Kemp, is sure to generate excitement and put butts in seats and will give them way more production than James Loney did.

With the Dodgers close to returning Juan Rivera to the middle of their lineup for another season, already possessing young studs such as Dee Gordon and Jerry Sands and even having a potential trading chip like Andre Ethier in hand, the signing of Prince Fielder would instantly catapult this team into contender status.