SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Diya TV) — The San Diego Padres are facing a high-stakes ownership battle that has spilled into public view, adding layers of complexity to an already dramatic offseason for the franchise. At the heart of the dispute is Sheel Seidler, the Indian American widow of the team’s late owner Peter Seidler, who passed away in November 2023 at the age of 63. Sheel has filed a lawsuit against her brothers-in-law, Bob and Matt Seidler, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud, and efforts to exclude her from the leadership of the team.
In a complaint filed in Texas probate court, Sheel claims that Bob and Matt, acting as trustees of the Seidler Trust, engaged in self-dealing by selling trust assets to themselves at below-market prices. These actions, she alleges, were intended to consolidate their control over the Padres. Sheel, the sole beneficiary of the trust, is seeking to be named the team’s control person, a designation that would give her authority over the franchise in the eyes of Major League Baseball (MLB).
“As the largest individual stakeholder and someone deeply involved in team operations alongside my husband, I am pursuing this action to protect the vision Peter and I shared for the Padres,” Sheel stated in a social media post. She emphasized her role in key team decisions during Peter’s ownership, including input on management hires, daily operations, and player acquisitions.
The lawsuit paints a vivid picture of familial discord. According to Sheel, her brothers-in-law have “irreconcilable conflicts of interest” and have sought to install their older brother, John Seidler, as the team’s next control person. The Padres announced John’s nomination in December, pending MLB approval, but Sheel contends this move violates Peter’s intentions. The suit even includes a handwritten note, purportedly by Peter, listing Sheel and their children as his preferred successors.
The conflict extends beyond boardroom disputes. Sheel’s complaint includes allegations of racist and discriminatory behavior by Robert’s wife, Alecia, who allegedly directed hateful comments toward Sheel. The lawsuit argues that these actions reflect broader efforts to marginalize her within the family and the organization.
“Defendants’ actions to wrest control of the Padres were undertaken to force Sheel—a woman, an interloper, and an Indian-American woman not of O’Malley descent—out of what they perceive as their family business,” the complaint reads, referring to the Seidlers’ connection to the late Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley.
The Seidler Trust issued a statement dismissing Sheel’s claims as “entirely without merit.” According to the trust, Peter had a clear estate plan that named three of his nine siblings, including Bob and Matt, as successor trustees. The statement also asserts that Peter explicitly prohibited Sheel from serving as trustee, a condition to which she had agreed in a sworn document in 2020.
“The trustee is exclusively responsible for designating the San Diego Padres’ next control person,” the statement noted. “Sheel agreed she had no right to this role and would not interfere with the process.”
Interim control of the team currently rests with Eric Kutsenda, a longtime business associate of Peter Seidler. While Kutsenda’s ownership stake is below MLB’s required 15%, the league has granted an exception due to the temporary nature of his role.
The ownership dispute unfolds against a backdrop of significant financial adjustments for the Padres. Following a franchise-record $257 million payroll in 2023, the team has reduced spending to $166 million for 2024. The lawsuit claims that such moves would have been anathema to Peter, whose ambitious spending reflected his commitment to delivering a World Series title to San Diego.
The Padres are also in the midst of pursuing Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki, a move emblematic of the aggressive strategy that defined Peter’s tenure. Sheel argues that her leadership would align with this vision, contrasting sharply with the perceived conservatism of her brothers-in-law.
The stakes are monumental, with the Padres valued at $2.03 billion by Sportico, making them the 15th-most valuable MLB franchise. Forbes places the team’s worth slightly lower, at $1.78 billion. Beyond the financial implications, the lawsuit raises questions about the future direction of a team that has never won a World Series and remains central to the identity of San Diego.
MLB has so far declined to comment on the dispute, and the Padres have referred inquiries to the Seidler Trust’s statement. As the legal battle unfolds, the case promises to shape not only the Padres’ ownership but also the legacy of Peter Seidler’s tenure.
READ Sheel Seidler’s public letter and full complaint here:
Complaint:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vjSGm2OvaZ3qHLDUL9sUefujqBOv2bvw/view
READ Seidler Trust’s response statement here:
