Diamond ordered to pay Guardians 50% of money owed for April

A federal judge has ordered Diamond Sports Group to "pay the Guardians 50% of what it owes" the team for April, based on its Bally Sports television contract, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The Guardians are scheduled to receive $55M this year, but "exactly how much they receive could be determined in a May 31 hearing in bankruptcy court." U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez also ordered Diamond to make 50% payments to the Twins, Rangers and D-backs. The Guardians, based on Lopez’s order, are "expecting to receive 50% of their May payment as well." Any payments after that "could be affected by the results of the May 31 hearing." MLB, the Guardians and the Twins filed a motion in early April requesting that Diamond "honor its contracts or return the TV rights to the teams." If that happens, MLB said that it "has the capacity to broadcast the team’s games as scheduled" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/26).