Stay Relevant San Diego

The San Diego Padres might not be so irrelevant going forward after news broke today concerning the potential sale of the franchise.  The Padres reportedly sold for an estimated 800 million dollars to a group headlined by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, San Diego businessman Ron Fowler, and four-time major champion golfer Phil Mickelson. 

The news had to have sent positive vibes through the Padres fan base, but the deal won’t be final until approved by MLB owners later this month at a gathering in Denver, CO. 

One would think that this deal is a slam dunk for approval and indeed it should be.  This franchise is accustomed to exciting ownership change and San Diego is a perfect candidate for a shake-up.    

The Padres first joined Major League Baseball in 1969 and quickly became bottom feeders, so much so that after just five years in existence, owner C. Arnholt Smith wanted to sell the club in 1974.  However, selling the club meant relocation to Washington D.C.  Instead, Ray Kroc (McDonalds), who had no intention of moving the club, stepped in and saved the day for San Diegans and their Padres.

This deal is eerily similar to that of 1974; the primary difference is that the Padres were never considering selling to an owner who wanted to relocate.     

Now, with the Padres sitting in fourth place in NL West (47-64), hope rests in the hands of a possible ownership group that is poised and determined to revitalize a franchise that has the potential to be dangerous; dangerous to the point of once again contending for division titles and NL Pennants.

Why not San Diego?  They have the history with two World Series appearances (1984/1998), the weather is beyond perfect (free agent paradise), Petco Park is wonderful, and they have great fans.

Plus, with new ownership comes new money to spend.  Just use the Dodgers’ spending spree as of late as an example. 

Pair the willingness of new ownership to go out and spend with the splendid backdrop San Diego has to offer; the Padres just might be this upcoming off-season’s version of the LA Angels or Miami Marlins.      

Either way, the Padres are back….pending approval.