It was suspected that the O’Malley family -- former Dodgers owners -- were the front runners to buy the Padres. That suspicion has been confirmed, as Scott Miller reports that the O’Malley group -- which is actually fronted by San Diego businessman Ron Fowler -- has entered into an exclusive negotiation period with current owner John Moores.
Miller further reports that Fowler -- who was to be a minority owner under the doomed Jeff Moorad bid -- will play a much larger role in the new ownership group than previously believed. Indeed, he will be “the point man.” Also in the group: golfer Phil Mickelson.
The sale price is expected to be in the neighborhood of $800 million. Since both Fowler and O’Malley are both past owners or quasi-owners, their approval, assuming a deal is reached, should go off without a hitch.
