MLB owners give final approval to sale of Padres

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, sons of former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley.

Commissioner Bud Selig announced the endorsement after the end of the owners meetings in Denver.

Under the deal, the group will buy the franchise from owner John Moores for about $800 million. The sale will close by Aug. 31.

Ron Fowler, a businessman in San Diego, will become the executive chairman. The new ownership group also consists of Peter and Tom Seidler, nephews of Peter O’Malley, along with golfer Phil Mickelson.

The agreement with the new group came months after Jeff Moorad’s attempt to buy the team on a layaway plan collapsed. Moores’ deal with Moorad, who began his attempted purchase of the club in 2009, was valued at about $500 million. Moores’ divorce forced him to put the team on the market in 2009.

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Infielder Wilson Betemit has been put on the 15-day disabled list by the Baltimore Orioles because of torn cartilage in his right wrist. Betemit is expected to return Aug. 27. ... St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was held out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row Thursday night because of tightness in his back. ... The Colorado Rockies activated Michael Cuddyer from the 15-day disabled list and he started Thursday at first base against the Miami Marlins. Cuddyer missed 11 games because of a strained muscle on his right side. ... The New York Mets sent right-hander Pedro Beato to Boston on Thursday to complete the trade in which they acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach on Tuesday.