Watkins Is Interested in Angels

Donald Watkins, the Alabama businessman whose attempt to purchase the Minnesota Twins has stalled, is now pursuing the Angels.

In the April edition of a newsletter published by Watkins, an article says he “made his proposal to purchase another [Major League Baseball] team in early March.” The article does not identify the team or detail the proposal, but two sources confirmed the Angels, who are owned by the Walt Disney Co., are the team.

The Angels have not sought permission to reveal confidential financial documents to Watkins, a highly placed baseball source said Friday, an indication that sale discussions are in a preliminary phase. The newsletter article indicates Watkins has not withdrawn his offer to buy the Twins and has not ruled out bidding on the Montreal Expos if owners allow that team to be moved to Washington, D.C.

Watkins declined to comment. Paul Pressler, the executive who oversees the Angels and Mighty Ducks for Disney, said the company would not comment on potential buyers.

Watkins, 53, hopes to become the first African American with sole ownership of a major league team.

“I’d like to see him buy a major league franchise, for a lot of reasons,” Commissioner Bud Selig said Friday. “I think it would be a good thing for baseball.”

Disney valued the Angels at $300 million and the Ducks at $150 million during negotiations to sell both teams three years ago. Watkins is not interested in buying the Ducks.

Disney nearly sold the Angels to Florida Marlin owner John Henry last fall, before Henry joined the group that eventually won the bidding for the Boston Red Sox. At one point, sources said, Disney told major league officials the company would have accepted $250 million from Henry, and Watkins is believed to be prepared to offer a similar amount.

Questions about Watkins’ wealth have dogged him. According to a source, he privately lists his net worth at $1.5 billion, a figure he has never publicly disputed, discussed or detailed in numerous interviews. He is not included in the Forbes ranking of the 400 richest Americans, a list of those whose worth the magazine estimates at $600 million or more. In its current issue, Forbes examined Watkins’ business interests in banking and energy and concluded “we have reason to doubt the [$1.5-billion] number.”