Source: Los Angeles Times

The Dodgers made a significant statement Friday and it had nothing to do with their 6-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium or their acquisition of starting pitcher Joe Blanton from the Philadelphia Phillies.

They won a waiver claim on Cliff Lee.

That doesn't mean the Dodgers will be able to pry the former Cy Young Award winner from the Philadelphia Phillies — in fact, indications are that they won't — but the move was the most telling sign to date of their new owners' economic muscle.

The mere act of placing a claim on Lee exposed the Dodgers to the risk of adding as much as $110 million to their ledger, as the Phillies could have forced them to take the 33-year-old left-hander and the remainder of his bloated contract. Still, there was no hesitation on the part of the Dodgers, according to a person familiar with their thinking.

"This shows what this team wants to do," outfielder Shane Victorino said. "It's about now. We don't want to wait around."

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