"Steven Cohen, a billionaire eight times over, is bidding for the Dodgers in a process tilted toward the high bidder.

However, the East Coast hedge-fund executive is not content to let his wealth speak for itself. He has engaged one of America's notable sports architecture firms to propose renovations to Dodger Stadium, allied himself with one of baseball's power brokers, secured the support of at least two prominent Angelenos and met with several major league owners.

He was joined in those meetings by Arn Tellem, an influential sports agent who could run the Dodgers if Cohen were to buy the team.

The developments were confirmed by several people familiar with the Dodgers sale process, each of whom said he could not comment publicly. Jonathan Gasthalter, a spokesman for Cohen, declined to comment.

Cohen is among the first bidders submitted to Major League Baseball for approval, according to a person familiar with the process but not authorized to discuss it. Initial bids for the Dodgers are due Jan. 13.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt took the team into bankruptcy in June and agreed to sell last month. According to a court filing Tuesday, the Dodgers' parent company has spent $12.05 million in "bankruptcy-related expenses," more than the team paid any of its players last season.

Cohen, 55, is the founder of SAC Capital Advisors, a Connecticut-based investment firm that controls $14 billion in assets. In September, Forbes estimated his net worth at $8.3 billion.

Two former SAC fund managers have pleaded guilty to insider trading as part of a wide-ranging federal investigation in which the company's records have been subpoenaed, according to the Wall Street Journal. No charges have been filed against Cohen or his company, according to the Journal."