Owners' divorce puts Padres on block

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- The owner of the San Diego Padres, in the midst of a divorce and division of assets, has put the baseball team up for sale.

John Moores confirmed Monday that he has retained Goldman Sachs to find potential buyers, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The newspaper said it was unclear if Moores wants to sell his entire interest in the Padres.

"My strong desire is to stay involved because the last decade and a half has been a terrific experience," Moores told mlb.com, Major League Baseball's Web site. "But I have no idea how long this is going to take or how it's going to turn out. I don't know at this point what the combination will be and whether I'll be involved in it."

Moores owns 90 percent of the Padres. He and his wife, Becky, are ending their marriage of 44 years and, under California's community property law, she is entitled to half his share in the team.

After paying $80 million for a majority interest in the team in 1994, Moores was owner during an era when the Padres were in the playoffs four times and the World Series once. But this past season, the Padres lost 99 games.