Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved the sale of the San Diego Padres to an investor group led by Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, clearing a key step for a deal that values the franchise at an MLB-record $3.9 billion. The transaction is still expected to close in the coming weeks. MLB said Padres CEO Erik Greupner and general manager A.J. Preller will remain in charge of day-to-day operations. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the new owners understand the club's place in San Diego and its bond with fans, while Feliciano and Jones said they aim to bring a World Series title to the city and invest ambitiously in the franchise's future. The sale follows the Seidler family's decision last November to explore a transaction two years after Peter Seidler's death. Seidler had taken majority control in 2020 after joining the ownership group in 2012 and became widely identified with the Padres' aggressive spending push. Under his ownership, San Diego made four playoff appearances in six years and produced the most successful stretch in franchise history. The new ownership group's minority partners include Joey and Jesse Buss. Feliciano, who was born in Puerto Rico, becomes the second Latino principal owner in Major League Baseball.