McCourt is offered $1.2 billion for Dodgers

The bid is being led by L.A. Marathon founder Bill Burke and "funded in part by Chinese investors," the LAT is reporting, citing sources. Sounds flaky already. If true, the sale price would set a record for a Major League Baseball team. Nobody is talking.

It also is uncertain whether negotiations with the Burke group -- or any other group -- might explain why McCourt's attorneys have yet to pursue the cable television rights sale that they said would be the key to getting the Dodgers out of bankruptcy court. Bruce Bennett, the Dodgers' lead bankruptcy attorney, had promised to move forward on the issue at an Aug. 16 court hearing but did not do so. Fox Sports has threatened to sue for damages if the Dodgers void the two years remaining on the current cable contract to pursue a new one.

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The letter was presented on behalf of the Burke group by Signal Capital Management of New York. The firm has offices in Beijing, according to its website. Shane Rodgers, chairman and chief executive officer of the firm, said in an email that the firm would not comment "on any potential or proposed transactions." The letter did not specify who would finance the Burke bid, other than to say the money would come from "certain state-owned investment institutions of the People's Republic of China" as well as unidentified American investors.

Keep in mind that any sale would have to be approved by Commissioner Bud Selig and the other owners.