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Originally published October 9, 2008 at 8:00 PM | Page modified October 9, 2008 at 8:00 PM

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Padres downplay sale report

The San Diego Padres dismissed as "highly speculative" a report that owner John Moores will sell 49 percent of the team as part of a divorce settlement with wife Becky.

By BERNIE WILSON

AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO —

The San Diego Padres dismissed as "highly speculative" a report that owner John Moores will sell 49 percent of the team as part of a divorce settlement with wife Becky.

"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," the team said in a statement released in response to the report by NBC 7/39.

"No decision regarding the Padres has been made, and the divorce proceedings are the subject of confidential mediation. Neither John Moores nor the Padres will have any further comment on the report."

Moores didn't return a phone call or e-mail from The Associated Press seeking comment. Club CEO Sandy Alderson and general manager Kevin Towers also didn't return messages.

Becky Moores filed for divorce in February after more than 44 years of marriage.

John Moores, who made a fortune in computer software, bought a majority stake in the Padres for approximately $80 million in 1994 from a 15-member group headed by TV producer Tom Werner. Werner later became co-owner of the Boston Red Sox.

NBC 7/39 reported that two other San Diego families are considered potential owners, including the Jacobs family, which co-founded Qualcomm Inc. The other family wasn't named.

Qualcomm spokeswoman Emily Gin Kilpatrick forwarded a request for comment to the Jacobs family, saying it was a personal matter that didn't directly involve the company.

Qualcomm, founded in 1985, is the world's largest maker of chips that run cell phones and is known for pioneering technologies. In 1997, it bought the naming rights to Jack Murphy Stadium, paying $18 million that the city needed to complete an expansion for the NFL's Chargers.

The Padres moved from Qualcomm Stadium to Petco Park in 2004, leaving the Chargers and San Diego State's football team as the main tenants at "The Q."

The Padres were last in the NL West at 63-99 this season, their worst finish since 1993.

The Moores' divorce has also left questions about the Padres' player payroll for next season. Towers has said he expects it to be less than the approximately $75 million payroll the team had this season.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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