Manny Machado Applauds Padres’ Anticipated $3.9 Billion Sale: ‘Says It All’
Anaheim — Manny Machado praised the ownership group expected to buy the San Diego Padres. He reacted after learning the team drew a record-setting bid.
Sale details and buyers
The group is led by José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. The Los Angeles–based husband-and-wife duo agreed to buy the club at a $3.9 billion valuation.
The price is nearly five times the amount paid when Peter Seidler and Ron Fowler bought the franchise in 2012. If approved by MLB owners, it will rank among the six highest sale prices in North American sports history.
Ownership milestones
Feliciano would become MLB’s second Latino controlling owner. Arte Moreno remains the only other Latino controlling owner.
Jones would be the league’s first African American majority owner. Feliciano is a private equity investor and a co-owner of English club Chelsea.
League sources said Feliciano’s Clearlake Capital is not part of the transaction. Forbes estimates his net worth at roughly the same level as the expected sale price.
Roster, payroll and past spending
The club once fielded a $256 million roster under Seidler. Since his death, the team has reduced spending.
The Padres’ payroll remains among MLB’s top 10. That placement owes largely to multiple nine-figure contracts awarded under Seidler.
Machado originally signed a 10-year, $300 million deal in 2019. In 2023 he received an 11-year, $350 million extension.
Right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. holds a 14-year, $340 million extension. Those contracts help explain the current payroll ranking.
Player reactions and expectations
Manny Machado applauds the anticipated $3.9 billion sale and called it significant for the franchise. He said the price signals ownership’s desire to compete at a high level.
Machado said he had a few brief phone calls with the incoming owners. He has not yet met them in person after their visit to the spring training complex.
Machado captained the Dominican Republic in the recent World Baseball Classic. He said he looks forward to building relationships and pursuing a championship in San Diego.
Voices in the clubhouse
Fernando Tatis Jr. called Seidler’s legacy meaningful and said the sale brings mixed emotions. He urged patience as the new owners’ plans emerge.
Second baseman Jake Cronenworth, a Players Association executive subcommittee member, said the sale illustrates what investment can yield. Multiple players described the news as both closure and anticipation.
Next steps and context
The sale process attracted several billionaire suitors and produced a bidding frenzy. Approval from MLB owners could make the transaction official within weeks.
The transaction arrives ahead of a pivotal labor fight. The previously small-market Padres are now at the center of league conversation.
Players and fans will watch how Feliciano and Jones invest in the roster and facility infrastructure. For many, the $3.9 billion figure already says a lot about their intentions.
