Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- The troubled Los Angeles Dodgers , one of baseball 's most storied franchises , began receiving bids from potential buyers this week in a sale that 's expected to set a Major League record at more than $ 1 billion . The field of potential buyers includes famous retired athletes , a talk show host and a former owner , CNN has confirmed . `` The preliminary bids submitted Monday reflect significant interest in the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise and its enormous value , '' a team spokesperson said Thursday in an e-mail to CNN . Among the bidding groups are retired Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson and former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals executive Stan Kasten ; former CNN talk show host Larry King and agent Dennis Gilbert ; former Dodger stars Steve Garvey and Orel Hershiser ; former Dodger and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre ; Los Angeles shopping center developer Rick Caruso ; and former Dodger owner Peter O'Malley . `` It 's impossible to explain : it 's a valued franchise , '' King said . `` They and the Yankees are the most famous franchises in sports in America . '' Said Garvey said in an interview with CNN : `` We want to make it cost-effective . We want to bring it back to life . We want to make sure the culture within , inside the stadium , is reverent . You cheer for your team , and you accept the others . '' Garvey 's last comment was referring to fan complaints about safety and security at the ballpark -- especially in the aftermath of the brutal beating on opening day last year of a visiting San Francisco Giants fan , who was in a coma and is now recovering from brain injuries . The family of fan Bryan Stow , a paramedic from Santa Cruz , California , is now suing the team . Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig , known for being understated , looked pleased when CNN asked him about the financial heft of the bidders : `` They are doing OK , '' he said . `` You look at the quality of the people in each group , and they 're very , very good -- excellent , '' Selig said . Finances have been a problem for the team . Six-time World Series champions , the Dodgers filed for bankruptcy last June . Earlier , in April , the league took charge of the financially troubled team . Adding to the team 's woes are the acrimonious divorce proceedings between Frank McCourt -- the current owner -- and Jamie McCourt . Attorneys ' fees for both sides in the divorce could reach $ 35 million -- more than what the Dodgers pay any player -- and Jamie McCourt 's attorneys said that figure is unheard of in California divorces , even with its share of expensive celebrity divorces . Despite the financial and public relations problems , analysts say the team is expected to fetch more than $ 1 billion , breaking the record set in 2009 by the Chicago Cubs , which sold for $ 845 million . `` So much money is coming into this , really , whoever gets it , the Dodgers will be really happy , '' Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated told CNN . `` In terms of fans , I think it will be a quick fix . Whoever replaces Frank McCourt will be so good by comparison . '' Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda , who 's a special adviser to the Dodgers , said he hopes the new owner will bring another championship to the team . The last time the Dodgers won the World Series was in 1988 , when Lasorda was the manager . Lasorda is n't a bidder . `` We 're just waiting like anyone else . Who is going to be the winner ? '' Lasorda told CNN . `` Go out and get ballplayers . Do everything they can to give our fans -- who are the greatest fans in all of baseball -- give them a chance to see a championship team again . '' Dodger centerfielder Matt Kemp also wants to see a successful post-season . `` It does n't really matter to me who takes over this team , as long as they have the same thing in mind , and that is winning , '' Kemp told CNN . When contacted by CNN , a McCourt spokesman said the owner did n't have an immediate comment Thursday . With Selig 's approval , McCourt is expected to settle on a buyer by April 30 . CNN 's Tim Clark contributed to this report .
NEW : Early bids reflect Dodgers ' `` enormous value , '' a team spokesperson says . Bidders include Dodgers , Frank McCourt , Dodgers and Larry King . The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy this week . Owner Frank McCourt is in the middle of an expensive divorce .