MLB roundup: Bidders for the Los Angeles Dodgers whittled to three

The field of Los Angeles Dodgers bidders was cut to three Friday, and a winner could be identified as soon as next week.

The three finalists include a group led by hedge-fund billionaire Steven Cohen and Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist Patrick Soon-Shiong; a group led by Magic Johnson and veteran baseball executive Stan Kasten; and St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

The cut was confirmed by two people familiar with the sale process but not authorized to comment.

Major League Baseball owners are expected to vote on the three remaining bidders early next week. Final negotiations then would take place with Frank McCourt and Blackstone Advisory Partners, the investment bank brokering the sale.

McCourt has agreed to identify a winning bidder by April 1, although he has until April 6 to present a sale agreement to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

CARPENTER SIDELINED: Chris Carpenter has nerve irritation that has caused weakness in his pitching shoulder and the St. Louis Cardinals' ace will be sidelined indefinitely. The team says there is no new nerve injury and the cervical disc injury that occurred earlier in spring training is a "non-issue."

JENKS ARRESTED: Authorities say Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Bobby Jenks has been arrested on charges of driving under the influence. The Lee County Sheriff's Office says a deputy saw Jenks' SUV driving erratically early Friday in Fort Myers. Jenks has been released on bail. An arrest report says Jenks told the deputy he had taken "too many muscle relaxers."

JOBA HAS SURGERY: Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain dislocated his right ankle while playing with his son at a local spot that had a trampoline, jeopardizing his immediate future after yet another odd misstep for New York's bullpen at spring training.

TORRE BACK WITH MLB: Joe Torre has returned to the job of MLB's executive vice president for baseball operations less than three months after he resigned the post to join a group trying to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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