The Lerner family, owners of the Washington Nationals, have decided to withdraw their efforts to sell the MLB franchise, as confirmed by Mark Lerner, the team’s managing principal owner, to the Washington Post on Monday. This decision comes after approximately two years of exploring potential interest in the team, with local billionaire David Rubenstein briefly linked to the club before agreeing to purchase the Baltimore Orioles.
“We have determined, our family has determined, that we are not going to sell the team,” stated Mark Lerner. “Nothing has really changed. We’ve just decided that it’s not the time or the place for it. We’re very happy owning the team and bringing us back a ring one day.”
Last March, the Lerners paused their sale efforts due to the ongoing MASN dispute with the Orioles. With new ownership set to take over the Orioles, there is speculation that a resolution to the MASN dispute could pave the way for the Lerners to reconsider selling the Nationals in the future.
Although the Orioles were sold for $1.725 billion, there is a belief that the price may have been undervalued. Reports suggest that interest in the Nationals reached the $2 billion range, including from Ted Leonsis, who owns multiple Washington sports franchises.
Since winning their first World Series championship in 2019, the Nationals have struggled on the field, posting the sixth-worst winning percentage in baseball at .438. The team’s history dates back to the relocation of the Expos from Montreal in 2005.
Ted Lerner originally purchased the Nationals from Major League Baseball for $450 million in 2016. His son, Mark Lerner, took over as managing principal owner in 2018. Ted Lerner passed away at the age of 97 last February.
