DENVER (AP) – A person familiar with the negotiations says Major League Baseball owners have approved the sale of the San Diego Padres to a group that includes the O’Malley family and pro golfer Phil Mickelson.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on the condition of anonymity because Commissioner Bud Selig has yet to make an announcement. The owners were still in meetings.
Under the deal, the group will buy the franchise from John Moores for around $800 million.
The new ownership group includes Kevin and Brian O’Malley, the sons of former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley. Ron Fowler, chief executive of Liquid Investments, is set to become controlling owner.
The agreement comes months after Jeff Moorad’s attempt to buy the team on a layaway plan collapsed.
NEW YORK (AP) – Full-time on-field officials and adding new crews are at the center of the dispute between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association.
The officials have been locked out by the league, and replacements are being used for exhibition games.
The NFLRA says Thursday that the NFL wants to add three crews totaling 21 officials without increasing “aggregate compensation.” Instead, that would cause a reduction in pay.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the proposal would allow each official to work fewer games, reduce travel, and allow the league to do more intensive training.
As for full-time officials, the NFLRA says the league has not made salary offers, but it isn’t opposed to full-time officials if they are fairly compensated. The league’ says the proposal “also focuses on improving the quality of officiating long term.”
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas at N-Y Yankees 12:05 p.m.
Boston at Baltimore 6:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Toronto 6:07 p.m.
Oakland at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Tampa Bay at L.A. Angels 9:05 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers at Pittsburgh 3:05 p.m.
N-Y Mets at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.
San Diego at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at Milwaukee 7:10 p.m.
Arizona at St. Louis 7:15 p.m.
Miami at Colorado 7:40 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE on ESPN Radio 1410)
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Cincinnati at Atlanta 7:00 p.m.
Cleveland at Green Bay 7:00 p.m.