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Dodgers Web musings: The sinking payroll (videos)

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It was there at the bottom of The Times’ Bill Shaikin story Tuesday about the Dodgers signing Andre Ethier and James Loney to one-year deals, and the news of the arbitration figures submitted by the team and Clayton Kershaw.

‘If Kershaw and the Dodgers split the difference in their proposals, the team would be likely to open the season with a 25-man roster earning about $92 million.

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‘The Angels are expected to open the season with a 25-man roster earning about $150 million.’

That’s a huge ouch, and if hardly unexpected, still stunning. That’s a $58-million difference for two teams separated by a 30-mile stretch of the Golden State Freeway. And it’s a good $5 to $10 million less than last year’s Dodger payroll.

One team is on the rise, the other in limbo. One committed to winning, the other in bankruptcy court.

Also on the Web:

— ESPN/LA’s Ramona Shelburne looks at why there is so much more interest in purchasing the Dodgers now than in 2004.

— Clayton and Ellen Kershaw’s new book ‘Arise’ earned plenty of attention. Here’s a Web interview with the two from MLB.com.

And here are several stories on the young couple, their book and effort to build an orphanage in Africa: Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com, Mike Martinez at Fox Sports West and Shelburne at ESPN/LA.

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— LA Observed’s Phil Wallace argues that a top priority for the new owner should be rebuilding a barren farm system.

— MLB.com’s Evan Drellich examines how the 10 players listed as the Dodgers’ top prospects last spring performed in 2011.

— MLB.com’s Barry Bloom, at Dennis Gilbert’s annual scouts dinner last Saturday, writes that it’s time the Hall of Fame recognized scouts.

— Forbes’ Mike Ozanian examines Rupert Murdoch’s effort to partner up with another buyer on the Dodgers.

And in a video, Ozanian interviews sports attorney Rich Brand, who has worked on media rights deals with several teams, on the value of the Dodgers’ future media-rights deal and what Frank McCourt’s legal agreement with Fox means.

— Steve Dilbeck

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