Washington — The Washington Nationals, one of Major League Baseball’s esteemed franchises, will not be changing hands after all. The team, which has been on the market for nearly two years, will remain under the ownership of the Lerner family. Principal owner Mark Lerner confirmed the news during spring training in West Palm Beach, Florida, telling The Washington Post that his family has decided not to sell the team. A Nationals spokesperson has also confirmed the report.
The Lerner family has owned the team since purchasing it from MLB in 2006. They had begun exploring a possible sale in April 2022. Mark Lerner took over as principal owner from his father, Ted, in 2018, after which Ted Lerner passed away in February 2023 at the age of 97.
The announcement comes in the wake of David Rubenstein’s recent agreement to acquire the nearby Baltimore Orioles for $1.725 billion. The sale is pending a full vote of MLB ownership and must secure a 75% approval.
The Nationals’ local television rights have been a contentious issue since the Orioles were granted ownership of them as part of the deal to move the Montreal Expos to Washington in 2005. This matter is still being litigated in court.
Despite finishing last in the NL East for the past four seasons, the Nationals remain a highly respected organization, having won their first championship in 2019. Fans of the team can continue to look forward to the excitement and potential of future seasons under the continued ownership of the Lerner family.
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