Lots of history, some good, some not so good involving the Padres.
I guess we should feel very good about where we are at this hour.
Guess we have to feel very good about where Peter Seidler took this franchise.
Sure this is a great unknown at what is next under Jose E-Feliciano once he is approved by MLB sometime in mid May.
There have been good eras and bad owners and all types of situations since this franchise was founded.
The Kroc family saved the team from being sold to a Washington, DC ownership group after C-Arnholdt Smith drove the team into the ground.
John Moores and Larry Lucchino saved the Padres a second time from the Tom Werner-Terrible 15 group of owners, more famous for Firesales than anything else. A bonus of that era, the arrival of Petco Park under the Moores-Lucchino flag
And Peter Seidler’s heart-vision and bank accounts, made San Diego feel special with free agent signings, building a pennant contender, and making Petco Park a destination point.
Feliciano is writing a record setting check to buy the Padres. He inherits a fanatical fan base, a history of great promotions, a veteran team with long term contracts that can still contend.
He also inherits some (450M) in debts incurred by the Seidler’s, linked to record payrolls but big deficits. The Friars have squeezed every penny out of fans, by winning, but have not made up for the loss of nearly (70M) in TV revenue, that evaporated when the regional sports TV networks collapsed three years ago.
There is work to be done. High payrolls, luxury tax payments to be made, and wondering if there will be a work stoppage after this 2026 season concludes.
Feliciano spent a ton to buy the Chelsea Blue in the English Premier League and has spent alot to build that soccer franchise, that has yet to win. He has not been treated well either because of the Anti American sentiment in Europe about US ownership of those clubs there.
He has a reputation of being hands on and interactive.
So we wait to see what a new CBA looks like? What the working relationship will be with the architect of the team-AJ Preller? And if chasing the Evil Empire will continue? Will there be a salary cap? Will there be a bigger Luxury Tax bite?
But at this hour, say thank you to the Seidler family for this 14-years of excellence. We await the arrival of the next leader at the corner of Tony-Trevor and Peter Place.
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