Angels Agree to Sale as Critics Say Moreno Squandered Ohtani and Trout’s Prime Years

The Los Angeles Angels are finally set to change hands. Owner Arte Moreno has agreed to sell the club to Stan Kroenke, the owner of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, in a deal expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027 if Major League Baseball approves it.

ESPN reporter Buster Olney, citing people familiar with the matter, put the value of the sale at $4 billion. That would exceed the $3.9 billion paid by a group led by José E. Feliciano to acquire the San Diego Padres, setting a new benchmark among recent MLB ownership deals.

Moreno bought the Angels from The Walt Disney Company in 2003 and became MLB’s first Latino majority owner. The team led the American League West five times from 2004 through 2009. Since 2010, however, the Angels have reached the playoffs only once.

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The Angels are a team with a long history and an excellent market. We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization.

The criticism has been especially sharp because Ohtani and Mike Trout spent their prime years on a team that recorded a winning percentage below .500 for 11 consecutive seasons. Moreno faced accusations that he intervened too heavily in baseball operations while failing to commit enough resources for the Angels to keep pace with rival organizations. Fans continued chanting for him to sell the team during home games this season.

Kroenke will acquire a controlling interest through Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, MLS’s Colorado Rapids and English Premier League club Arsenal. Kroenke called the Angels a historic team in an excellent market and said he looked forward to an exciting future with the organization. Moreno said his family had been fortunate to manage the club for 23 years and described KSE as the right next owner because of its experience and success.

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The Angels organization is pleased to announce this transaction with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The Moreno family has been fortunate to serve as the Angels’ stewards for the past 23 years, and we believe that, with KSE’s experience and success, they are the most suitable next owners for this team. The Angels organization looks forward to continuing its commitment to serving its fans, employees, players and business partners.