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Padres exec excited about season despite 'well over $100M' in revenue loss

Denis Poroy / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The San Diego Padres are expected to suffer major financial losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the team's executive chairman Ron Fowler believes having the 2020 campaign is still worth every dollar.

"I'm focused on, if we're going to lose money, let's win something and be able to celebrate," Fowler told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The executive said that playing baseball without fans, as well as diminished media rights and sponsorship agreements, could cost the franchise a fortune in both 2020 and 2021.

"People don't want to believe we're going to lose, cash on cash, well over $100 million," Fowler explained. "I can assure you we are. I just want baseball … We've already borrowed $100 million. We are looking to increase our loan availability, and we are looking to make a significant capital contribution - more money into the team."

Where that extra money will go remains to be seen, but the Padres have been active in free agency in recent years, spending $444 million to sign Eric Hosmer and Manny Machado to long-term deals.

The duo, along with the recently added Tommy Pham, are expected to be leaders on a burgeoning Padres club that Fowler expects to win this year.

"I like our ballclub. If we get off to a good start, we're fine. Peter (Seidler, the team's general partner) and myself, we're looking for winning baseball in 2020. That means winning more games than you lose. If we catch a couple breaks, we might be looking at a wild card."

The Padres are projected to go 32-28 during the shortened 2020 campaign, according to FanGraphs, which would put them in the hunt for a wild-card spot in the NL.

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