PEORIA, Ariz. — Hastiness cost the Padres in 2015, a season that featured several notable acquisitions, 88 losses and, according to Ron Fowler, little in the way of profit. Three years later, the consequences of that hastiness continue to be felt.



Due to various expenses, the Padres failed to break even in each of the last two years, Fowler, the team’s executive chairman, told The Athletic. To fund their course correction, they required a $20 million capital call in 2016 and a $15 million capital call in 2017. That money helped cover the $78 million dropped on international prospects and overage taxes during the 2016-17 signing period.



“I think ‘15 was about break-even, maybe 1 percent more than that,” Fowler said, adding, “You don’t have capital calls when you’re making money.



“Our numbers are our numbers. Our numbers are audited by Ernst and Young. I basically learned finance the hard way when...