Family Drama in San Diego

Family fights are no fun.

We’ve all been there before. Arguments about whose turn it is to take out the trash, walk the dog, wash the dishes, etc. Maybe even disputes about what to get Mom for Mother’s Day.

But what about a disagreement over who is responsible for controlling an organization valued at $2.2 billion?

That is the reality for the San Diego Padres — an organization that faces an uncertain future — due to a lawsuit filed last week.

Let’s dive in:

How We Got Here (not another timeline 🤦🏼‍♂️)

Nothing like a good ol’ timeline to help set the record straight. An overview of how we got here:

August 2012: The Seidler family, as part of an ownership group, purchases the San Diego Padres franchise for $800M.

November 2020: After MLB approval, Peter Seidler assumes the role of chairman and becomes the Padres’ largest stakeholder.

November 2023: Peter Seidler, a two-time cancer survivor, unexpectedly dies from complications of an infection, leaving behind his wife Sheela and three young children.

December 2024: Padres announce John Seidler, Peter’s oldest brother, as the team’s control person. Three-quarters of MLB’s owners still need to approve the appointment, which could occur as early as the February owner’s meeting.

January 6, 2025: Sheel Seidler, widow of the late Peter Seidler, files a complaint (discussed below) against Matt and Bob Seidler in Texas state probate court, seeking control of the Padres.

January 7, 2025: Matt Seidler, in a public letter addressed to Padres “partners and faithful fans,” denies Sheel’s various allegations and emphasizes that relocating the Padres has “never been discussed or contemplated.”

Sheel’s Lawsuit & Social Media Statement

On the first Monday of 2025, Sheel Seidler filed a 97-page complaint against Matt and Bob Seidler, current and former executors of Peter Seidler’s estate, respectively.

Sheel claims she acted as Peter’s “primary advisor” for Padres-related matters and that her late husband wanted Sheel to become the “Control Person” — a formal MLB title that denotes the person with ultimate control of the club — upon his death.

The complaint alleges several claims against the Seidler brothers including breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conversion, and egregious acts of self-dealing.

The complaint also accuses the Seidler family of engaging in “racist, profane, and hateful communications directed at Sheel — a woman of Indian descent.”

Below are some of the most jarring and indicative allegations I read.

According to the complaint, Bob and Matt Seidler have: