MLB Rumors: New San Diego Padres Owner Eyeing Massive Splash Move

The San Diego Padres went from spending like crazy under owner Peter Seidler to steadily slashing payroll after his passing. With the team finalizing a record-breaking sale, it appears new leadership will take things back in the other direction.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the “early belief around baseball is that new apdres owner José E. Felicianio “will be in it to win” and could become very aggressive to improve the team. That could include getting into a bidding war for Tarik Skubal.

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Heyman wrote that there’s a belief the Padres may begin “resuming the winning strategy” that fans fell in love with under the late Seidler. That could show up in the winter during MLB free agency, with San Diego potentially joining the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets in the pursuit of two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

It would be a strategy that is certainly music to the ears of Padres’ general manager A.J. Preller. He’s consistently been one of the most aggressive decision-makers in baseball, as demonstrated last summer when he dealt prospect Leo De Vries to the Athletics to acquire All-Star closer Mason Miller.

One other thing to note is the Padres’ long-standing interest in acquiring Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. While he isn’t believed to be available right now, that could change if the team is still struggling this summer. In that event, San Diego stands out as a potential trade partner.

The Padres would certainly have to shell out $50-plus million per season to land Skubal, making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history. What will be interesting to see is if San Diego searches for ways to shed specific player salaries to make signing Skubal a little easier to afford.