Moorad resigns from D'backs, looks to buy Padres

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

Jeff Moorad has resigned as chief executive officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks to pursue ownership of the San Diego Padres, and according to National League sources, he is in excellent position to buy the Padres.

Moorad will be succeeded as CEO in Arizona by the well-respected club president Derrick Hall, it was announced.

Moorad is required to resign in order to sign a term sheet indicating his intent to purchase the Padres, but several baseball people indicated Moorad wouldn't leave a good situation in Arizona unless he was confident of winning the Padres. Moorad, a former player agent, has done a nice job as CEO of the D'backs.

Current Padres owner John Moores is in a position where he has to sell the team after a public and costly divorce. The Padres have spent the winter looking at trades for a couple key players, including ace Jake Peavy.