In a scenario that feels all too familiar to baseball fans, the San Diego Padres have found themselves amidst an ownership battle. Doesn’t it echo the drama that unfolded with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023? In the Orioles’ case, a family feud over the team’s future ownership led to months of uncertainty before the franchise was ultimately sold to a new owner in 2024. 

The battle for control over the Orioles not only led to tension and public scrutiny but also significantly impacted the team’s operations, as financial uncertainty loomed large. Now, with the Padres in a similar tug-of-war, the concern is rising that the franchise could face its own set of challenges. Top insiders are warning that even if the Padres do not get sold outright, their financial stability could be seriously affected in the short term.  

Are the Padres going to Orioles’ way? 

Ken Rosenthal recently weighed in on the situation. Rosenthal said, “There are people in the industry, one agent that we quoted in particular said “Hey man, nothing good ever comes out of something like this” and I would suggest that is true. If you go back to the Angelos family in Baltimore. They had a similar circumstance.” Peter Seidler’s journey with the San Diego Padres began in 2012 when he joined the ownership group, but it was his ascension to majority owner in 2020 that marked a new chapter. Seidler, along with general manager A.J. Preller, were key in reshaping the Padres into a competitive force in the Major Leagues.  

Preller, hired in the summer of 2014, wasted no time making his mark, executing an impressive 10 trades in his first eight months as general manager. This assertive stance marked a daring change in the Padres’ approach that would eventually provide significant benefits. Three years after Preller was hired, the Padres made headlines, signing Eric Hosmer to an eight-year, $144 million contract, which, at that time, was the biggest in the team’s history. But that was just the beginning of a spending binge that would propel the club to much higher levels.

A major change in direction after the death of Peter Seidler 

The San Diego Padres launched a new era in 2020 when Peter Seidler took over as the team’s principal owner. San Diego was swiftly restructured by Seidler and general manager A.J. Presley. Can you believe they made an incredible ten transactions in just his first eight months? With several high-profile deals and contracts that drew attention from all across the league, the Padres’ evolution continued.  

The squad strengthened their lineup by trading 16 players in 2020, and they eventually made it to the postseason for the first time since 2006. The front office did not stop there; they made three incredible acquisitions a year later: Joe Musgrove, Blake Snell, and Yu Darvish. Although the fun part started when they shocked the baseball world by acquiring Juan Soto and Josh Hader in consecutive transactions at the 2022 trade deadline. However, Seidler’s willingness to spend heavily was what really made the Padres stand out.  

In addition to Machado’s $300 million contract, the Padres inked huge deals with Xander Bogaerts ($280 million), Joe Musgrove ($100 million), Yu Darvish ($106 million), and Fernando Tatis Jr. ($340 million). However, the Padres changed course upon the death of Peter Seidler in November 2023. After paying around $40 million in penalties on a $250 million roster in 2023, the team cut payroll and avoided the luxury tax in 2024, making them the only team to fall below the threshold after paying it the previous year. 

What do you think awaits next for San Diego? We cannot wait to see your speculations. Keep sharing!