MLB unanimously approved David Rubenstein’s purchase of the Orioles on Wednesday, and with Peter Angelos’ passing over the weekend, Rubenstein and his group will take 100 percent control of the team.
Opening Day is likely to be rained out, so we may have to wait on Game 1 of 162, but we know GM Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde have new ownership’s full support.
But for those watching it on TV, we heard rumblings from Chelsea Janes of WaPo about how now could be the time to settle the O’s and Nats’ disputes over MASN TV contracts, and apparently, Rubenstein said at an event this week that one of his priorities is cleaning up this mess.
Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun asked Rubenstein about that, and as he told BMitch & Finlay on Wednesday, there is at least some good news seemingly coming down the pike.
“I asked him what avenues did he plan to take to try to solve this, whether it’s working out deals with the Nationals, selling the rights separately, or maintaining control of the rights, and he wouldn't commit to any one particular route, saying it's premature at this stage of the process, but it is a major priority,” Weyrich said. “The most important thing is he wants get it out of the hands of the lawyers and into the hands of business people again. With all the hold-up that this has had in courts and things like that over the years, it's been messy; it's been a headache for the commissioner, the owners, and everyone in Baltimore and DC, and I don't think there's a single person out there that doesn't want to see this get resolved.”
Rubenstein apparently knows the Lerner Family and is also well-acquainted with DC’s other owner who could have a TV outlet for the Nats, so there is already a connection.
“From what I understand, they are familiar with each other, and he's also familiar with Ted Leonsis, as they were engaged in conversations to buy the Orioles last summer, prior to Rubenstein breaking off on his own and ultimately buying the team,” Weyrich said. “I know that he has been well connected with several different people within this realm in the DC area, and I'm sure those conversations are ongoing through lawyers and their teams of business people as well.”
Weyrich didn’t want to speculate further, but did offer this:
“An important part of all this is that Forbes pit out a report a couple of months ago that MASN was given a $0 valuation in the Orioles sale,” he said. “So if that doesn't tell you just how much of a thorn in the side this has been for all parties involved, I think that's the most emblematic part.”