EXCLUSIVE: Widow of Padres Owner Speaks Out Against Brother-In-Law Over Roki Sasaki
The widow of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler has spoken out against her brother-in-law, Matthew Seidler, over claims that her lawsuit prevented the team from signing star pitcher Roki Sasaki. According to Matthew, Sheel Kamal Seidler’s lawsuit came during a “critical time” of negotiations with Sasaki, but Sheel’s representatives claim that her involvement in the recruitment process could have led to a different outcome.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Sheel’s representatives say that their lawsuit would not have prevented the team from signing Sasaki if she was involved in the recruitment process. “Matt and Robert Seidler must be relieved to have an easy scapegoat for their failure to sign Roki Sasaki,” the statement reads. “The outcome could have been different if they hadn’t blocked Sheel from participating in the recruitment process, despite her many pleas to put aside any differences and help do what’s best for the Padres.”
Sasaki himself recently stated that one of the reasons he chose to sign with the Dodgers was due to the organization’s stability. Meanwhile, the lawsuit alleges that Sheel’s brothers, Matthew and Robert, are trying to erase Peter’s vision and legacy, as well as falsely cast themselves as Peter’s true heirs.
The response from Sheel’s representatives also claims that Peter’s death did not indicate a desire for her to take control of the team, as she claims, but rather that he wanted his siblings and niece to take control after his passing. “Peter never indicated he wanted Sheel to have control of the team after his passing,” the statement reads. “Peter had numerous conversations with his siblings and others about successor Control Persons and consistently identified five Seidler family members as candidates: Bob, Matt, John, his brother Tom, and his niece, Monica.”
The ruling on the lawsuit is still pending.
