BEESTON'S DEPARTURE FROM BLUE JAYS MAY HINT SALE IS NEAR

          Blue Jays President Paul Beeston yesterday "confirmed"
     his "rumored" departure from the team, according to Jim
     Byers in the TORONTO STAR.  Beeston had "made it clear in
     recent weeks that he didn't want to work" for prospective
     Blue Jays owner Murray Frum, and sources said Beeston "also
     felt he had been treated poorly by Frum, who didn't talk
     with him until seven months after" Frum's group started its
     bid for the team.  It's "also believed Beeston tried to form
     his own group to buy the team, but that Frum offered at
     least C$50M more than Beeston" (TORONTO STAR, 6/18).  In a
     sidebar, Byers reports that a source close to Blue Jays
     Owner Interbrew SA last week said Beeston told the brewery
     he will take the MLB COO position.  Byers adds that
     Beeston's announcement "seems another sign that the sale of
     the Blue Jays is near completion" (TORONTO STAR, 6/18).