The San Diego Padres are reportedly nearing a sale.
Why it matters: They're still chasing their first World Series — but could sooner claim a different distinction: the highest valuation ever for an MLB team sale.
Zoom in: The deal being discussed with the prospective buyers, private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones, values the Padres at about $3.9 billion, WSJ reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
- That would top the $2.4 billion the Mets fetched in their 2020 sale to hedge-fund billionaire Steve Cohen.
Between the lines: The sale process drew "several bids" above $3.5 billion, per WSJ.
Yes, but: The Yankees and Dodgers remain baseball's most valuable teams, at $9 billion and $8 billion, respectively, per CNBC's 2026 estimates.
- At $3.9 billion, the Padres would rank fifth in MLB — behind the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs and Red Sox.
