Moores not selling 49 percent of team, Padres state

Oct 9, 2008 - 11:35 PM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- In opposition to a report earlier Thursday, the San Diego Padres stated that it is "highly speculative" that owner John Moores will sell 49 percent of the team.

A report by local TV station NBC 7/39 stated that Moores was going to sell 49 percent of his stake in the team as part of his divorce settlement from his wife of 44 years, Becky.

Becky filed for divorce in February, and so far the proceedings have been nasty at times, with both parties having a dispute over the use of the owner's box during the season.

While Padres club spokesman Warren Miller stated that a decision about ownership of the team will need to be settled, no agreement to sell has been agreed upon yet.

"Obviously, since the Padres are part of the community estate, the matter of the Padres will need to be addressed as part of the divorce proceedings," Miller said in a statement. "No decision regarding the Padres has been made, and the divorce proceedings are the subject of confidential mediation."

Moores, who has owned the team since 1994, did not issue a statement.

Even if he is forced to sell, Moores will remain the majority owner in the club.

According to the TV report, there are two potential buyers for the 49 percent stake; the Jacobs family, the founders and managers of wireless telecommunications company Qualcomm, and another unconfirmed family.