Padres: Jeff Moorad in, Sandy Alderson out

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Jeff Moorad said this afternoon he would replace Sandy Alderson as the Padres’ chief executive officer when the partnership headed by Moorad completes its purchase of the club from outgoing owner John Moores.

The Padres announced today that a purchase agreement has been reached. The deal is expected to close and the sale to become official by opening day. Moorad, who got his start in baseball as a powerful player agent, formerly served as the chief executive of the Diamondbacks.

Moorad said he had not spoken with General Manager Kevin Towers or assistant Paul DePodesta, the former Dodgers general manager recruited to the Padres by Alderson. He said those executives would remain in place through at least the 2009 season.

‘I want to come in with an open mind,’ Moorad said. ‘As I have viewed the front office from afar, there are a lot of very capable people. ... I think we will use the ’09 season as an opportunity to assess and evaluate.’

Moorad said he did not anticipate that the Padres could generate the level of revenue needed to become major players in free agency.

‘Kevin Towers has done a fabulous job of building the club over the last 10 or 12 years by staying out of free agency,’ Moorad said.

-- Bill Shaikin