The Padres ownership saga is unofficially complete.
John Moores has agreed to a deal to sell the San Diego Padres to the O'Malley group, according to The Union-Tribune San Diego. The price? A figure close to $800 million.
This move is just another step in the right direction for the Padres. After a decade of highs and lows and ownership uncertainty, the franchise can now focus on future success. The distractions of ownership uncertainty are behind the club. With veteran stars locked up with multi-year deals, along with young stars, the front office looks like it will spend money to re-sign players and attract free agents.
Besides the franchise itself, the big Fox Sports broadcasting deal is included as well. Currently, Fox has the rights to the Padres for three decades, and will pay over a billion dollars to retain those rights.
The ownership deal is pending approval of MLB owners, which could come in the next few weeks.
However, the last time a Padres sale was pending approval, the deal was deferred. Jeff Moorad was attempting to become the majority owner in San Diego. His attempt to buy the Padres was a failure earlier this year.
As for Moores, the quicker he is removed, the better. History shows that when Moores was dedicated to the team, the Padres had success. But in the later years of his stint as owner, Moores became the opposite. He was less interested in the team, and his desire to unload the franchise was burning.
During his final years, Moores was also involved in a divorce, which was a distraction. His attitude towards the club did nothing but damage in his final years.
Payroll was also an enemy of Moores. Many times during his time as owner the Padres budget was slashed. If it was not for these cuts in the budget, guys like Jake Peavy and Adrian Gonzalez could be playing in a Padres uniform today.
With a new owner comes a brand new attitude from the top towards the organization. This deal will only help this club improve year after year. With the top farm system in all of baseball, the Padres' future success is imminent.
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