San Diego Padres Ownership Notes

The Padres are a team with no owner. Well, they have an owner. But he doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the

team or care. He hasn’t in a long time. In fact, he has already sold this team once – but it fell through. Now, the Padres are on the market again, and at least three groups are in a legitimate position to purchase them. Here are the most recent updates on the sale of the Padres:

• Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union Tribune reports that Tony Gwynn has tax liens as he heads into a potential purchase of his long-time club. Last month it was reported that Tony Gwynn would be the “face” of an ownership group headed by movie mogul Thomas Tull. Gwynn and Tull met in downtown San Diego before Gwynn was convinced to join his team. However, Schrotenboer points out Gwynn has over $400,000 in unpaid federal taxes. Gwynn was never meant to be a big money backer, and Schrotenboer points out, “If Gwynn is not a money partner in the ownership group, his financial background is unlikely to affect the outcome.”
• Barry Bloom of MLB.com reported last month that three groups have been approved by Major League Baseball to move forward in their research and potential purchase of the Padres. This three groups include a group headed by Thomas Tull, a group headed by Steve Cohen, and a group headed by Peter O’Malley. Since the announcement, it seems Thomas Tull and Steve Cohen’s groups have the inside track based on money and backing. Tony Gwynn is the front man for the Tull group, and Phil Mickelson hopes to become the lead man for the O’Malley group which could help the O’Malley family from a perception standpoint. Those two superstars alone don’t make them the groups easy picks, but they help. All three groups have substantial cash available which Bud Selig and Major League Baseball will be weighing heavily. Of course, John Moores is looking for the highest bidder and more groups may enter the picture.
• Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times feels the Padres new owner should be able to use Tony Gwynn in a similar way the Dodgers are using Magic Johnson. He says, the club can use Gwynn not just for the purchase, but to generate more interest in the team after the transaction is complete. “Gwynn is pitching common sense. The new owners are going to need someone like him selling it, the same way Magic is selling the Dodgers,” said Shaikin.

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