SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 01: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres takes the field prior to Game One of the Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park on October 01, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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The San Diego Padres issued a telling, if somewhat expected, statement on the state of the team on Thursday and it has led to questions about a potentially league-changing transaction.
The Seidler family, which owns the Padres, has been considering a sale of the franchise for months, following the death of Peter Seidler in 2023. Now the family has issued the clearest indication yet that it will be looking to transition the team to new ownership.
“The family has decided to begin a process of evaluating our future with the Padres, including a potential sale of the franchise,” chairman John Seidler said in a statement issued to the media. “We will undertake this process with the integrity and professionalism in a way that honors Peter’s legacy and love for the Padres and lays the foundation for the franchise’s long-term success.”
But as the controlling family explores a sale of the franchise, it faces a clear obstacle. The Padres have several long-term financial commitments on the books, and prospective buyers would undoubtedly prefer that those be cleared away.
Most notably, the team owes at least $20 million to three players in each of the next seven seasons, according to FanGraphs: Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr. And if the team were to try and shed some of that commitment, it’s clear that Tatis would elicit the most interest from rival clubs.
However, it seems the team has already decided it won’t be trading Tatis this winter, even if a deal in the near future can’t be ruled out.
“The San Diego Padres, who announced Thursday they are up for sale, won’t trade All-Star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. now, but go ahead and check back with their new ownership a year from now,” USA Today Major League Baseball insider Bob Nightengale reported.
Even though he is in the midst of a 14-year, $340 million contract, Tatis would garner significant interest if he were placed on the trade block.
He is a three-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger and a two-time Gold Glover. He earned a Platinum Glove Award for his most recent campaign, which also featured a .268/.368/.446 slash line with 25 homers and 32 stolen bases.
Entering the prime of his career, Tatis would fit with virtually any contending team thanks to his strong defense and variety of offensive skills. But it seems like the Padres are planning on contending for a World Series title at least one more time with him leading the charge.
However, as the team seems set to change hands in the near future, Tatis might be the kind of investment that no longer makes sense.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2025/11/14/padres-make-fernando-tatis-jr-trade-decision-after-sale-news-insider/
