Sale complete - UPDATE IN POST BELOW

Seidler Family Weighing Five Offers For Padres - MLB Trade Rumors

Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that five prospective buyers have submitted bids. Previous reporting had identified Joe Lacob, José E. Feliciano and Dan Friedkin as suitors.

Earlier this month, Sportico estimated the franchise value around $2.31 billion. It seems the Seidler family is aiming a fair bit higher. Acee writes that people within the industry anticipate the sale price will land north of $2.5 billion. Rosenthal and Lin report that the Seidlers are seeking a purchase price closer to $3 billion than to the estimation from Sportico.

Anything north of $2.5 billion would be a record for an MLB franchise. Steve Cohen’s 2020 purchase of the Mets from the Wilpon family was for roughly $2.475 billion. That remains the high-water mark. More recent sales of the Orioles and Rays have landed in the $1.7 billion range. Peter Seidler’s group purchased the Padres for $800MM in 2012. The reports from the Union-Tribune and The Athletic — each of which are worth a full read for San Diego fans — suggest an agreement could be reached around Opening Day.

Edited August 18Aug 18 by rmc523

The Seidler family is nearing a deal to sell the Padres to a group led by private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones, per Jared Diamond and Miriam Gottfried of the Wall Street Journal. The deal values the Padres franchise at close to $3.9 billion, which would shatter the previous record for a big league franchise in a sale. Steve Cohen’s $2.4 billion purchase of the Mets in 2020 currently stands as the record.

Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported yesterday that the sale process was nearing its conclusion, suggesting that the Seidlers could find a price upwards of $3.5 billion. Per the Wall Street Journal duo, San Diego received multiple bids valuing the franchise at more than $3.5 billion. In addition to Feliciano’s group, the three finalist bidders were groups led by Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, and Dan Friedkin, who owns the English Premier League’s Everton club.

Seidler Family Nearing Deal To Sell Padres To José E. Feliciano - MLB Trade Rumors

MLB Owners Approve Sale Of Padres To José E. Feliciano, Kwanza Jones - MLB Trade Rumors

Major League Baseball announced that league owners have unanimously voted to approve the Padres’ new ownership group led by José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. Feliciano will be club’s control person. There is still some rubber-stamping to do, as the league announced that the approval “remains contingent upon the closing of the transaction involving the controlling interest in the Club with the current owners of the Padres, which is expected in the weeks ahead.” The Padres also relayed the news, saying that Erik Greupner remains CEO while A.J. Preller stays on as president of baseball operations.

Commissioner Rob Manfred issued this statement as part of today’s announcement:

“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I thank John Seidler and the entire Seidler family for their stewardship of the San Diego Padres. Continuing the legacy established by the late Peter Seidler, the Padres reached the Postseason four times in the last six years, energized one of baseball’s most passionate fanbases, and strengthened the Club’s role as a cornerstone of the San Diego community. We appreciate the Seidler family’s longstanding commitment to our National Pastime and their many contributions to the game.

“It is my pleasure to welcome José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones as the new majority owners of the Padres following today’s vote. José and Kwanza understand the unique place the Padres hold in San Diego and the powerful bond between the Club and its fans. We look forward to their leadership of the Padres and to working with them to build on the Club’s strong foundation in a market that is so important to Major League Baseball.”

An agreement was finally reached in April, with Feliciano and Jones set to take over by agreeing to a $3.9 billion sale price. That figure was easily a new record, shattering the $2.4 billion that Steve Cohen spent to buy the Mets in 2020.

$3.9 Billion for the Padres is crazy.

Hopefully this valuation gets Sherman what he wants to get the fuck outta here

11 hours ago, Piazza31 said:

Hopefully this valuation gets Sherman what he wants to get the fuck outta here

Yes that'd be nice.

15 hours ago, Piazza31 said:

Hopefully this valuation gets Sherman what he wants to get the fuck outta here

4 hours ago, rmc523 said:

Yes that'd be nice.

We constantly beg for a new owner, just to end up with the same situation or even worse with the next one.

It is hard to believe, but I sometimes miss Loria.

22 minutes ago, Admin said:

We constantly beg for a new owner, just to end up with the same situation or even worse with the next one.

It is hard to believe, but I sometimes miss Loria.

It's going to take a lot more than spending money to turn this franchise around in terms of popularity and attendance. It will take several years of doing so to show fans that there wont be a major salary dump the year or year after showing some commitment to winning. The ballpark was supposed to be what brought stabilization to this franchise yet we keep getting subjected to terrible ownership after terrible ownership. It would be hard to find someone who can come in and has the patience to lose some money before things turn around.

1 hour ago, Admin said:

We constantly beg for a new owner, just to end up with the same situation or even worse with the next one.

It is hard to believe, but I sometimes miss Loria.

I believe it, I do too. He would have went all in this season, and in the 2020 season. Heck, he might have done it in 2024(?) too.

John Henry wasn’t a bad owner, he inherited a bad deal. Huizinga signed deals as the Marlins with his own cable company, parking authority, vendors, stadium and seats.

No one should have agreed to buy the team from him, and no owner would have thrived unless they were cohen, balmer or bezos.

Manfred really offered Jeter and Sherman a bump and both took their pants down in the handicap stall for it.

They all saddled their significant others (us) with herpes after it.

41 minutes ago, LordMagnus said:

It's going to take a lot more than spending money to turn this franchise around in terms of popularity and attendance. It will take several years of doing so to show fans that there wont be a major salary dump the year or year after showing some commitment to winning. The ballpark was supposed to be what brought stabilization to this franchise yet we keep getting subjected to terrible ownership after terrible ownership. It would be hard to find someone who can come in and has the patience to lose some money before things turn around.

A marquee draw would do it. A name, and a pitcher with some Latin ties like Felix or Johan. Sandy was that man but injuries ruined that.

Remember how loud the park used to get for Jose’s starts? Get that every fifth day and fans will start coming on off days because it’s fun.

What a setback that was.

1 hour ago, Admin said:

We constantly beg for a new owner, just to end up with the same situation or even worse with the next one.

It is hard to believe, but I sometimes miss Loria.

Yeah, no kidding.

1 hour ago, LordMagnus said:

It's going to take a lot more than spending money to turn this franchise around in terms of popularity and attendance. It will take several years of doing so to show fans that there wont be a major salary dump the year or year after showing some commitment to winning. The ballpark was supposed to be what brought stabilization to this franchise yet we keep getting subjected to terrible ownership after terrible ownership. It would be hard to find someone who can come in and has the patience to lose some money before things turn around.

100% agree. We need a moneybags owner that doesn't care about losses until they win and the profits will come.

Fans have been burned too many times

47 minutes ago, Piazza31 said:

A marquee draw would do it. A name, and a pitcher with some Latin ties like Felix or Johan. Sandy was that man but injuries ruined that.

Remember how loud the park used to get for Jose’s starts? Get that every fifth day and fans will start coming on off days because it’s fun.

What a setback that was.

This "sign a Latin player" approach is overvalued, IMO.

6 hours ago, rmc523 said:

Yeah, no kidding.

100% agree. We need a moneybags owner that doesn't care about losses until they win and the profits will come.

Fans have been burned too many times

This "sign a Latin player" approach is overvalued, IMO.

It's proven successful in this market, for a SP atleast. Puts asses in seats.

10 hours ago, Piazza31 said:

It's proven successful in this market, for a SP atleast. Puts asses in seats.

But is it because he was latin, or because he was good?

11 hours ago, rmc523 said:

But is it because he was latin, or because he was good?

Neither, its because he was Cuban.

But looking back for evidence I just realized the Marlins would always fudge the attendance numbers by selling $1 seats to the community foundation or something. I was going off my own experience of how the ballpark felt and was more alive for a Fernandez start (even 1999's Fernandez) then say a Adam Conley start.

Using Alcantara as an example we see spikes vs others pitching the same day (Sunday vs Sunday) but then it could be excused by opponent.

Needless to say, your just going to have to go by your own experiences. Nolasco, Mitre, Sanchez, Johnson and whoever never really moved the needle for casual fans. Willis did but thats when he went on a massive run, facing the Randy Johnsons and Tom Glavines. JJ did the same when he faced other teams studs.

Fernandez, Fernandez and Hernandez made the place feel more full at the very least. Maybe someone else can chime in here.

11 hours ago, Piazza31 said:

Neither, its because he was Cuban.

But looking back for evidence I just realized the Marlins would always fudge the attendance numbers by selling $1 seats to the community foundation or something. I was going off my own experience of how the ballpark felt and was more alive for a Fernandez start (even 1999's Fernandez) then say a Adam Conley start.

Using Alcantara as an example we see spikes vs others pitching the same day (Sunday vs Sunday) but then it could be excused by opponent.

Needless to say, your just going to have to go by your own experiences. Nolasco, Mitre, Sanchez, Johnson and whoever never really moved the needle for casual fans. Willis did but thats when he went on a massive run, facing the Randy Johnsons and Tom Glavines. JJ did the same when he faced other teams studs.

Fernandez, Fernandez and Hernandez made the place feel more full at the very least. Maybe someone else can chime in here.

But you're proving the point with those other examples (Willis, JJ, etc) of if the guy was dominant, him being Latin (or Cuban) doesn't necessarily matter, people will come see it.

That said, Fernandez had an energy to him all his own.

My point is just signing someone because they're Latin to pander to Latin fans is dumb.

On 8/21/2026 at 8:19 AM, rmc523 said:

But you're proving the point with those other examples (Willis, JJ, etc) of if the guy was dominant, him being Latin (or Cuban) doesn't necessarily matter, people will come see it.

That said, Fernandez had an energy to him all his own.

My point is just signing someone because they're Latin to pander to Latin fans is dumb.

Exactly. This is the age old discussion we’ve had many times on this forum. And I wrote my opinion extensively a few years ago when I used to spend a lot of time on this forum. But the key with Marlins fans and the Miami market in general is simple.

People will only come out if something is hip and trendy and exciting at the moment. And the only way that will happen is if the Marlins have a very exciting and flashy young pitcher that is generating buzz around the league and media in general OR if the Marlins are 15+ games over .500 and in a top position playoff run.

So signing a “top Latin player” won’t budge the attendance much in the long run if the Marlins have a 40-56 record.

Yes people came out and watched Jose pitch but that’s because he was flashy and exciting and it felt like you were witnessing something special. Same thing with Dontrelle in 2003 and a very small example with Sixto. 😂

The argument I made before was how in 2022 at some point in that season Sandy and Pablo Lopez were both in the top 5 of a lot of pitching stats in the NL and Sandy was having his Cy Young award season and people still weren’t coming out in droves when Sandy pitched even though he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022 and then in 2023 either as reigning Cy Young winner.

So yes I feel like this age old argument of “they just need to sign a top Latin player and that will increase attendance” has been going on over 20 years or longer and probably will always go on for Marlins fans.

So I think it’s less about where the top player is from and more about how much buzz and excitement they can create and if there’s a player that seems like a once in a generation player that you might not see another player like that in your lifetime then of course everyone would come out. But there’s only like 1 player who could do that..

Here’s my best illustration of everything I’m saying here:

If the Marlins had Shohei they are probably selling out every game because people want to come and see something that incredible and special regardless of the record.

But put Juan Soto and Julio Rodriguez in the outfield and the if the Marlins are 50-81 eventually the attendance is going down to 14000 a game.

On the other hand, bring the whole Jumbo Shrimp roster to play on the Marlins but then they are 80-50 and being talked all around as the best team in baseball. Then the fans will magically appear in droves because it would be the hottest ticket in town in that moment. And that’s the real key with Miami, gotta be the hottest ticket in town to get the people to come out. 😂

So ultimately, signing a “top Latin player” is never going to be the solution to fix attendance. Being considered one of the best teams in baseball is the only real solution here to draw fans and the only way that will happen is to be winning a lot of games and be trendy and creating buzz and excitement and it’s probably gonna take like at least 5 years in a row of making the playoffs and possibly World Series appearances like 3 times in a 5 year period to see that culture change of considering the Marlins a hot ticket. But until that happens nothing is gonna change with the Marlins attendance in the long run. It’s been the same story the past 25 years and will continue on. 😂

Edited August 23Aug 23 by SirFishFan

15 hours ago, SirFishFan said:

Exactly. This is the age old discussion we’ve had many times on this forum. And I wrote my opinion extensively a few years ago when I used to spend a lot of time on this forum. But the key with Marlins fans and the Miami market in general is simple.

People will only come out if something is hip and trendy and exciting at the moment. And the only way that will happen is if the Marlins have a very exciting and flashy young pitcher that is generating buzz around the league and media in general OR if the Marlins are 15+ games over .500 and in a top position playoff run.

So signing a “top Latin player” won’t budge the attendance much in the long run if the Marlins have a 40-56 record.

Yes people came out and watched Jose pitch but that’s because he was flashy and exciting and it felt like you were witnessing something special. Same thing with Dontrelle in 2003 and a very small example with Sixto. 😂

The argument I made before was how in 2022 at some point in that season Sandy and Pablo Lopez were both in the top 5 of a lot of pitching stats in the NL and Sandy was having his Cy Young award season and people still weren’t coming out in droves when Sandy pitched even though he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022 and then in 2023 either as reigning Cy Young winner.

So yes I feel like this age old argument of “they just need to sign a top Latin player and that will increase attendance” has been going on over 20 years or longer and probably will always go on for Marlins fans.

So I think it’s less about where the top player is from and more about how much buzz and excitement they can create and if there’s a player that seems like a once in a generation player that you might not see another player like that in your lifetime then of course everyone would come out. But there’s only like 1 player who could do that..

Here’s my best illustration of everything I’m saying here:

If the Marlins had Shohei they are probably selling out every game because people want to come and see something that incredible and special regardless of the record.

But put Juan Soto and Julio Rodriguez in the outfield and the if the Marlins are 50-81 eventually the attendance is going down to 14000 a game.

On the other hand, bring the whole Jumbo Shrimp roster to play on the Marlins but then they are 80-50 and being talked all around as the best team in baseball. Then the fans will magically appear in droves because it would be the hottest ticket in town in that moment. And that’s the real key with Miami, gotta be the hottest ticket in town to get the people to come out. 😂

So ultimately, signing a “top Latin player” is never going to be the solution to fix attendance. Being considered one of the best teams in baseball is the only real solution here to draw fans and the only way that will happen is to be winning a lot of games and be trendy and creating buzz and excitement and it’s probably gonna take like at least 5 years in a row of making the playoffs and possibly World Series appearances like 3 times in a 5 year period to see that culture change of considering the Marlins a hot ticket. But until that happens nothing is gonna change with the Marlins attendance in the long run. It’s been the same story the past 25 years and will continue on. 😂

Great summation.

Yes, this town shows up for winning teams. They don't show up for losing teams. A "special" player (Latin or non-Latin) could cause per-game blips, but won't change overall numbers much.

Look at any other team in town, specifically the Panthers.......bad for years, then ownership actually invested in the team, and viola......they started winning and bam, everyone started showing up.

Fans show up for the Heat because for the most part they win, or at the very least, they've earned fan trust by always trying to compete.

Fans have showed up for Inter Miami after their ownership invests to bring in the best players and they've been winning.

The Dolphins....well....they're the Dolphins lol. But "football," so there's a built-in fan base there.

Build Invest in making a winner, people show up.

18 hours ago, SirFishFan said:

Exactly. This is the age old discussion we’ve had many times on this forum. And I wrote my opinion extensively a few years ago when I used to spend a lot of time on this forum. But the key with Marlins fans and the Miami market in general is simple.

People will only come out if something is hip and trendy and exciting at the moment. And the only way that will happen is if the Marlins have a very exciting and flashy young pitcher that is generating buzz around the league and media in general OR if the Marlins are 15+ games over .500 and in a top position playoff run.

So signing a “top Latin player” won’t budge the attendance much in the long run if the Marlins have a 40-56 record.

Yes people came out and watched Jose pitch but that’s because he was flashy and exciting and it felt like you were witnessing something special. Same thing with Dontrelle in 2003 and a very small example with Sixto. 😂

The argument I made before was how in 2022 at some point in that season Sandy and Pablo Lopez were both in the top 5 of a lot of pitching stats in the NL and Sandy was having his Cy Young award season and people still weren’t coming out in droves when Sandy pitched even though he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022 and then in 2023 either as reigning Cy Young winner.

So yes I feel like this age old argument of “they just need to sign a top Latin player and that will increase attendance” has been going on over 20 years or longer and probably will always go on for Marlins fans.

So I think it’s less about where the top player is from and more about how much buzz and excitement they can create and if there’s a player that seems like a once in a generation player that you might not see another player like that in your lifetime then of course everyone would come out. But there’s only like 1 player who could do that..

Here’s my best illustration of everything I’m saying here:

If the Marlins had Shohei they are probably selling out every game because people want to come and see something that incredible and special regardless of the record.

But put Juan Soto and Julio Rodriguez in the outfield and the if the Marlins are 50-81 eventually the attendance is going down to 14000 a game.

On the other hand, bring the whole Jumbo Shrimp roster to play on the Marlins but then they are 80-50 and being talked all around as the best team in baseball. Then the fans will magically appear in droves because it would be the hottest ticket in town in that moment. And that’s the real key with Miami, gotta be the hottest ticket in town to get the people to come out. 😂

So ultimately, signing a “top Latin player” is never going to be the solution to fix attendance. Being considered one of the best teams in baseball is the only real solution here to draw fans and the only way that will happen is to be winning a lot of games and be trendy and creating buzz and excitement and it’s probably gonna take like at least 5 years in a row of making the playoffs and possibly World Series appearances like 3 times in a 5 year period to see that culture change of considering the Marlins a hot ticket. But until that happens nothing is gonna change with the Marlins attendance in the long run. It’s been the same story the past 25 years and will continue on. 😂

But you're proving the point with those other examples (Willis, JJ, etc) of if the guy was dominant, him being Latin (or Cuban) doesn't necessarily matter, people will come see it.

That said, Fernandez had an energy to him all his own.

My point is just signing someone because they're Latin to pander to Latin fans is dumb.

You’re right. I relent. I bow the knee.

Let’s break bread at Winn Dixie.

Edited August 24Aug 24 by Piazza31

On 8/19/2026 at 12:55 PM, Admin said:

It is hard to believe, but I sometimes miss Loria.

That magical 2003 run and nostalgia really helps whitewash the majority of Loria's tenure.

If we're stuck with poverty ownership biding its time until cashing out on a franchise sale, I much rather have the ownership that attempts to hire someone competent and is hands-off outside of setting budget.

I don't want to go back to regularly spending below the franchise's allotted draft pool. Attaching comp picks and prospects in lieu of eating salary in dump trades. Making "go for it" trades that are obviously bad at the jump (e.g., Rodney). Structuring every contract as heavily backloaded, so you know within a season when they'd be dealt.

I can't even remember the last star player before Sandy who played out their first arb buyout contract with this team. Even Loria's beloved Hanley was shipped to the Dodgers when the backloaded half hit.

Also can't remember the last time the Marlins gained a prospect by eating salary (Conine for Villar).

Current ownership sucks, but fuck Loria.

On 8/24/2026 at 12:09 PM, dgriot said:

That magical 2003 run and nostalgia really helps whitewash the majority of Loria's tenure.

If we're stuck with poverty ownership biding its time until cashing out on a franchise sale, I much rather have the ownership that attempts to hire someone competent and is hands-off outside of setting budget.

I don't want to go back to regularly spending below the franchise's allotted draft pool. Attaching comp picks and prospects in lieu of eating salary in dump trades. Making "go for it" trades that are obviously bad at the jump (e.g., Rodney). Structuring every contract as heavily backloaded, so you know within a season when they'd be dealt.

I can't even remember the last star player before Sandy who played out their first arb buyout contract with this team. Even Loria's beloved Hanley was shipped to the Dodgers when the backloaded half hit.

Also can't remember the last time the Marlins gained a prospect by eating salary (Conine for Villar).

Current ownership sucks, but fuck Loria.

Hanley was offloaded because he was an ass that talked out both sides of his mouth, was upset he was moved to 3B even tho they asked him, and stopped trying (just like after he jogged after a kicked ball into LF and blamed his manager).

Hanley didn’t want to be here, let it be known and pulled a Manny to try to go back to the Red Sox. The Marlins traded him because he was a malcontent and a clubhouse cancer, not because they were cheap.

It didn’t hurt that the 2012 team sucked, Bell killed any momentum we had- and Gaby/ Lomo really regressed. They tried one last time trading for Lee and then just blew it up.

But Hanley, he was a real POS. Apartamento .348 shoulda been condemned because that mofo was a slumlord.

On 8/30/2026 at 7:41 PM, Piazza31 said:

Hanley was offloaded because he was an ass that talked out both sides of his mouth, was upset he was moved to 3B even tho they asked him, and stopped trying (just like after he jogged after a kicked ball into LF and blamed his manager).

Hanley didn’t want to be here, let it be known and pulled a Manny to try to go back to the Red Sox. The Marlins traded him because he was a malcontent and a clubhouse cancer, not because they were cheap.

It didn’t hurt that the 2012 team sucked, Bell killed any momentum we had- and Gaby/ Lomo really regressed. They tried one last time trading for Lee and then just blew it up.

But Hanley, he was a real POS. Apartamento .348 shoulda been condemned because that mofo was a slumlord.

You're right about Hanley being a clubhouse cancer, and that likely being the main reason to move him at the 2012 deadline.

Maybe it's me being uncharitable, but even if Hanley was a model citizen, he would've been dumped with everyone else ~4 months later anyway.

(It feels appropriate that the FA signing that killed momentum was the one Loria allegedly pushed for, heh.)