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FOWLER STEPS DOWN
#1 · November 18, 2020, 12:25 pm
Ron Fowler has stepped down as executive chairman of the Padres and sold a majority stake of the team to general partner Peter Seidler, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Seidler, who was already part of the organization’s ownership group, has already been approved by the other 29 owners as the Padres’ new control person, according to Acee.
The 77-year-old Fowler will remain involved with the Padres as a minority shareholder and as an advisor. More notably, he’ll still have a voice in next year’s collective bargaining talks, per the report. Fowler previously served as the chairman of MLB’s labor committee in the last wave of collective bargaining talks in 2015. He figures to again be an influential voice in a contentious set of negotiations after years of frustration from players, culminating in this spring’s three-month return-to-play staredown against ownership.
#2 · November 18, 2020, 12:34 pm
Beginning speculation who (if anyone) steps in to the junior role behind Seidler.
Theo Epstein? Just stepped down from the Cubs and said would sit out a year BUT left the window open if an ownership opportunity arose with the "right" partners. Epstein is heavily involved in charities and the like, social responsibility. Peter Seidler is of a similar ilk. That sounds like a lot of compatibility.
SD could become the next chapter for Epstein after Boston and Cubs winning the World Series after long droughts?
#3 · November 18, 2020, 12:52 pm
Fowler will remain a minor Owner so to me this just seems like a money issue selling his majority to Seidler therefore making him the majority owner.
Not sure it means anyone else is coming in.
#4 · November 18, 2020, 1:26 pm
Quote from MrPadre19 on November 18, 2020, 12:52 pmFowler will remain a minor Owner so to me this just seems like a money issue selling his majority to Seidler therefore making him the majority owner.
Not sure it means anyone else is coming in.
Fowler's 77... maybe just wanting to back off the workload of being the main guy. Maybe focus majority of time now on role helping hammer out next CBA.
Owners, not GM's so agree not neccly an "opening" like a GM leaving & AGM promoted thus opening his spot... but Seidler may make someone the clear #2 below him.
#5 · November 18, 2020, 1:42 pm
Can't see Preller wanting to have uber GM Epstein as his "owner" either...
#6 · November 18, 2020, 2:40 pm
As I remember when Fowler took ownership he at that time said he expected to be in control for maybe 5 years ... so hung on a bit longer.
Got the sense he was just tired of all the work as the lead owner ... at age 77 ... and probably needed to do some financial “housekeeping” for his estate.
Not a surprise and Siedler / Fowler were aligned on this plan from the beginning ... just timing.
Siedler indicated there is no plan to add another member in the ownership group.
However, Fowler actually did work ... and Siedler may take the lead but may need another person in authority (maybe not owner) to to cover some of the work (and be a person for Siedler to bounce ideas off). Siedler is involved of a lot of other stuff that is important in his life and not likely to move from that involvement.
#7 · November 18, 2020, 2:42 pm
Side: often speculated that Fowler was the more conservative financial force while Siedler was more open to spending ... we will see if that speculation is valid and if he is ... does that make any difference near term.
#8 · November 20, 2020, 3:48 am
I wish Seidler had a better picture on the Padres website. It's a really bad look. Unprofessional for someone who is being introduced as the new leader of a multimillion dollars company IMHO.