The Kansas City Royals said in a statement Friday the team has sold and the closing of the sale to local businessman John Sherman and a group of investors is pending customary approval from Major League Baseball.

"The decision to sell the Royals was difficult for our family," said David Glass, the team's owner and CEO since he acquired the team in April 2000, in a statement. "Our goal, which I firmly believe we've achieved, was to have someone local, who truly loved the game of baseball and who would be a great steward for this franchise going forward.