Mike Moore, the president of Minor League Baseball has announced that he will be stepping down after 16 years as the head of MiLB when his term runs out in December.

During his four terms, Minor League Baseball established national marketing and licensing programs, franchise values increased dramatically and attendance soared to record heights, setting all-time marks in the last three consecutive seasons, reaching 41.7-million in 2006.

A statement from Moore reads:

"The past 16 years our industry has made great progress in many areas. This progress was achieved through the results of the cooperative efforts of many outstanding people who have served on the BOT and the COLP, plus the talented and hard-working contributions of the Minor League Staff.

"I have enjoyed being a part of this historic period in Minor League Baseball and working closely with those mentioned above.

"As I approach my 67th birthday and face a number of health issues, which have limited my activities, I find that I cannot continue to devote the same time and effort toward future goals.

"It is, therefore, with thanks to all who have provided friendship and help over the years toward our common efforts, I officially inform you that I will not seek re-election following this final year of my current term.

"I will continue to provide and contribute any assistance possible to Minor League Baseball following the end of my current term."

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Atlanta Braves Minor League player Brandon Monk has been suspended for 50 games, effective for his club’s game tonight, for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Monk is currently with Single-A Rome of the South Atlantic League.

To view all historical information on drug violations within MLB, and Minor League baseball, check The Biz of Baseball's Drug Violations page

The Portland Beavers, currently the AAA affiliate of the San Diego Padres, will announce tomorrow that the team has been sold to Merritt Paulson, whose background includes Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development at NBA Entertainment in New York. He formerly worked for HBO and was instrumental in launching HBO On Demand.

While financial terms were not been released at press time, the sale has rumored to be approx. $15 million.

Paulson will also take over ownership of the Portland Timbers soccer team that shares the PGE Park facility with the Beavers.

The announcement will be conducted by Merritt Paulson and his wife, Heather. Jack Cain, Acting President and GM, Portland Beavers, Branch Rickey, President, Pacific Coast League, Sandy Alderson, Chief Executive Officer, San Diego Padres, and Gavin Wilkinson, Head Coach/GM, Portland Timbers

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that New York Mets Minor League pitcher Lino Urdaneta has been suspended for 50 games, effective today, for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Urdaneta is currently with New Orleans (Triple-A) of the Pacific Coast League.

To view all historical information on drug violations within MLB, and Minor League baseball, check The Biz of Baseball's Drug Violations page

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Texas Rangers Minor League player Francisco Cruceta has been suspended for 50 games, effective today, for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Cruceta is currently with Oklahoma (Triple-A) of the Pacific Coast League.

To view all historical information on drug violations within MLB, and Minor League baseball, check The Biz of Baseball's Drug Violations page 

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that New York Mets Minor League player Jorge Reyes has been suspended for 100 games, effective today, for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance for a second time in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Reyes is currently with Savannah of the South Atlantic League.

Reyes was suspended the first time for 50 games on 4/18/06. With his second positive test on 5/8/07, Reyes was suspended 100 games.

To view all historical information on drug violations within MLB, and Minor League baseball, check The Biz of Baseball's Drug Violations page

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Houston Astros Minor League player Louis Santangelo has been suspended for 50 games, effective today, for using a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

To view all historical information on drug violations within MLB, and Minor League baseball, check The Biz of Baseball's Drug Violations page

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Detroit Tigers Minor League player Sendy Vasquez and Toronto Blue Jays Minor League player Matthew Roney have each been suspended for 50 games for (Vasquez for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, and Roney for a drug of abuse) in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension of Vasquez took effect on Friday, April 27th. Roney's suspension took effect on Saturday, April 28th.

To view all historical information on drug violations within MLB, and Minor League baseball, check The Biz of Baseball's Drug Violations page

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League player Jonathan Figueroa has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. His suspension will take effect on June 19th, the date of the first scheduled game of the season for the Ogden Raptors.

Bookmark the Drug Violations page on The Biz of Baseball to view historical information and any other violations that may occur.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Minor League player Cedrick Brooks, who most recently had been a member of the Colorado Rockies organization, has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. His suspension will take effect immediately upon signing with another Major League organization.

Bookmark the Drug Violations page on The Biz of Baseball to view historical information and any other violations that may occur.