The San Diego Padres will undergo a slight ownership change, as executive chairman Ron Fowler has sold the majority of the team’s stake to Peter Seidler.
Fowler made the postseason for the first time since he took ownership of the Padres. He is now handing over the reins to his general partner, Seidler.
According to SD-UT’s Kevin Acee, Major League Baseball approved Seidler as the Padres’ new control person and his new title will be chairman.
Fowler is not completely going away from the organization, as the 76-year-old will serve in an advisory role. He is expected to continue to play a key role in baseball’s labor negotiations, as they have an important Collective Bargaining Agreement coming up next offseason.
What they built
Padres fans know Seidler for being the secondary owner since he and Fowler took over the team in 2012. Fowler was the face of the ownership group and was the head man in the innovation of Petco Park. He was also instrumental in changing from their blue uniforms back to the fan-favorite brown and gold uniforms.
Fowler and Seidler were a big driving force in signing Wil Myers to an $83 million contract extension, Eric Hosmer to an 8-year deal, and All-Star third baseman Manny Machado to his 10-year, $300 million contract before the 2019 season.
Fernando Tatis Jr. remains the team’s biggest extension priority to be completed. Seidler will be the majority owner when the negotiations take place.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted on Wednesday that the ownership move “certainly creates a potential opening for [Former Cubs President of Baseball Operations] Theo Epstein, who has told friends he’d love to be involved in ownership and has had eyes on San Diego.”
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
