MLB Owners Unanimously Approve Sale Of San Diego Padres To José Feliciano, Kwanza Jones

SAN DIEGO, CA — Major League Baseball has agreed to transfer control of the San Diego Padres to José E. Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones in what would be the biggest sale in MLB history, reportedly worth $3.9 billion.

Major League Baseball and its owners Monday unanimously approved the sale of the San Diego Padres to a new group led by private equity billionaire Feliciano and Jones.

Feliciano was designated the Padres' Control Person in alignment with MLB governance requirements. The Padres will continue to be led day-to-day by CEO Erik Greupner and President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller, according to MLB.

"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I thank John Seidler and the entire Seidler family for their stewardship of the San Diego Padres," Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. said in a statement. "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 fan bases, 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."

The Seidler family has owned the Padres since 2012. In November 2025, it announced the family was beginning a formal process to explore strategic options, including the possible sale of the franchise. Peter Seidler, the team's CEO, died in 2023, prompting a murky and at times contentious battle over ownership of the team, with infighting and lawsuits between Seidler's widow, Sheel, and his siblings.

"Our family loves this team," Padres Chairman and brother of Peter, John Seidler, said earlier this year. "This is a bittersweet moment for us as we reflect on what the Padres have accomplished since my brother Peter became the steward of the franchise. I congratulate Kwanza, José and the Padres, and wish them nothing but success. We look forward to a smooth transition."

The Padres have never won a World Series championship. They entered the National League in 1969.

"We are a family first, and becoming owners of the San Diego Padres means joining an even larger one," a joint statement from Jones and Feliciano read. "We are grateful to the Seidler family, and especially to Peter, for raising the expectations of what this franchise can achieve. We have built our life and our work together, and we will bring that same shared purpose, commitment, and determination to our stewardship of the Padres. It is a source of immense pride and an extraordinary opportunity to become part of a team, a tradition, and the San Diego community that has supported it so faithfully.

"Our ambition is clear: to bring a World Series championship to San Diego and build an enduring organization capable of competing for championships year after year. We intend to be engaged owners, bringing our energy, experience, and perspective while working alongside the talented team already in place and investing ambitiously and thoughtfully in the Padres' future. That means pursuing excellence and innovation throughout the organization, delivering a first-class experience at Petco Park, deepening the bond with the faithful fans, and making a positive impact across the San Diego community. We are all in and committed to winning."

Feliciano is a co-founder of the Santa Monica-based Clearlake Capital Group, the majority shareholder of the parent company of Chelsea of the English Premier League.

The closing of the transaction and ownership transition is scheduled to occur in the coming days, the MLB said.

City News Service contributed to this report.