A Money Player for Dodgers

The Dodgers’ new owners have hired a finance executive from baseball’s biggest-spending franchise to help return the team to profitability.

Martin Greenspun, the New York Yankees’ chief financial officer, was named chief operating officer of the Dodgers on Monday, with responsibility for all aspects of the team’s business operations. He will rank behind co-owners Frank and Jamie McCourt and on par with General Manager Paul DePodesta in the Dodgers’ hierarchy.

Greenspun will be a critical player in the McCourts’ bid to make money off a franchise that listed operating losses of more than $100 million in 2001 and 2002 alone.

Reached at home in Tampa, Fla., Greenspun said he could not comment because he was still an employee of the Yankees. But in a statement, the Los Angeles native and lifelong Dodger fan called it his “ultimate dream job.”

Greenspun, a 16-year veteran of professional sports operations and management who had been with the Yankees for six years, will start his new job May 17. He was credited during his time with the Yankees with developing new ticketing packages, pricing and sales strategies, and negotiating concession and merchandise contracts.

Greenspun, 41, also had been Disney Sports Enterprises’ director of finance for the Mighty Ducks and Angels from 1994-98, and executive director of finance for the Kings from 1988-94. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from USC.

“He was very well-respected,” said Tim Mead, the Angels’ vice president of communications. “He worked in strategic planning with both organizations and he was a direct conduit to the Disney Company. He was involved in a lot of aspects of the organization, from the budgeting to the strategic planning to working with human resources and personnel.”

Frank McCourt was unavailable for comment Monday but said in a statement that Greenspun “possesses an unparalleled range of strategic financial expertise, and we anticipate he will have an extremely positive, innovative impact on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I’ve spoken at length about the necessity of fiscal responsibility and accountability within this organization, and Marty’s track record with the Yankees, Angels, Mighty Ducks and Kings shows he’s the ideal individual to lead us forward in enhancing this franchise’s revenues.”