Troy Aikman Says He Sold Padres Stake After Moorad Failed to Win MLB Approval
His 2012 exit kept him off the ownership ledger before later investments pushed the Padres to a record $3.9 billion sale in 2026.
Overview
- Aikman confirmed on a recent podcast that he sold his minority stake in the San Diego Padres and that he was involved with the Moorad ownership group for about three years.
- The Moorad group agreed to a phased purchase beginning in 2009 but Major League Baseball owners declined to approve Jeff Moorad as managing general partner, which led the group to abandon the full takeover and triggered Aikman’s exit around 2012.
- After the Moorad deal collapsed, John Moores sold to Ron Fowler’s group for roughly $800 million in 2012, setting the stage for later ownership changes.
- Under Peter Seidler’s stewardship starting in 2020 the Padres spent heavily on top players, improved on-field results and fan turnout, and that sustained investment was a key factor in the franchise’s steep rise in value.
- The team sold in 2026 for a record $3.9 billion to José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, highlighting how MLB’s approval rules and the timing of an investor’s exit can determine who benefits from a franchise’s later appreciation.