• MLB owners approve sale of Padres: The O’Malleys are back in the baseball business. Back in Southern California, too, just down the road in San Diego instead of Los Angeles. In a quick vote Thursday, Major League Baseball owners approved the sale of the Padres to a group that includes Kevin and Brian O’Malley, the sons of former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley. Commissioner Bud Selig announced the endorsement after the conclusion of the owners meetings in Denver. Under the deal, the group will buy the franchise from owner John Moores for around $800 million. The final closing of the sale will be on or before Aug. 31. Ron Fowler, a local businessman in San Diego, will become the executive chairman. The new ownership group also consists of Peter and Tom Seidler, the nephews of Peter O’Malley, along with golfer Phil Mickelson.
• Giants GM shocked by Cabrera suspension: San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean says his club has two suspended veteran players who should know better than to use performance-enhancing drugs. A day after outfielder and All-Star game MVP Melky Cabrera received a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test, Sabean says he was “so taken aback it was deflating" when he received word from Major League Baseball. Gregor Blanco will move into the regular role as left fielder in place of Cabrera, who joins reliever and teammate Guillermo Mota as two of the four big leaguers suspended this season.
