The San Diego Padres have spent the last six years shedding their “small market” label to become one of MLB‘s premier powerhouses. While a World Series title remains elusive, the organization’s aggressive spending has transformed the NL West into a two-horse race. Now, with a record-shattering sale finalized and some choice words from the front office, the rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers has reached a fever pitch.
Message to the Dodgers from Mexico
During the Mexico City Series this past weekend, Padres minority owner Alfredo Harp Helú didn’t mince words when discussing his neighbors to the north.
“The Padres have a very good team, and maybe they can [win] the World Series,” Helú told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “The Dodgers are terrible.”
While the comments were delivered with a wink, they provide instant bulletin board material for an L.A. squad currently neck-and-neck with San Diego for the division lead. The timing is particularly notable as the franchise transitions to a new era. José E. Feliciano and his wife recently acquired the Padres for a staggering $3.9 billion, the highest price ever paid for an MLB franchise. The sale eclipsed Steve Cohen‘s $2.4 billion purchase of the New York Mets in 2020 by a massive margin.
Helú, who holds the second-largest minority stake in the team, confirmed he will remain part of the ownership group under Feliciano. For Helú, the investment is about more than just equity; it’s about the bridge between San Diego and Mexican baseball.
“We won’t sell our spot,” Helú affirmed. “The relationship with San Diego and the Diablos Rojos is very important for baseball in Mexico.”
The two titans of the West are scheduled for their first showdown of the season on May 18-20 at Petco Park. Given Helú’s recent jab, expect the atmosphere in San Diego to be electric.
Read the full article here
