Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno surprised the baseball world Monday night. He promised to own the team in the future and pulled it off the market after considering the option of selling it.
The Angels reportedly had interest from high-profile bidders. Many expect the Los Angeles franchise to sell for at least $2.5 billion, and the sale could exceed his $3 billion.
Instead, Moreno returns as the owner of the Angels. While fans spoke out, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement of his own on Monday night.
“Despite strong buyer interest in the Angels, Arte Moreno’s love of the game is paramount to him. said in his statement.
The Angels have not made the playoffs since 2014. The Kansas City Royals swept Los Angeles in the ALDS despite having the best regular season record in MLB. Kansas City made it to the World Series in 2014 and won it in 2015.
Los Angeles failed to make the playoffs despite two of the game’s brightest stars consistently winning MVPs. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout shine in Angels uniforms, but there’s little to show for it.
Moreno’s biggest job as Angels owner has to do with Ohtani. The two-way superstar will be his agent free after the 2023 season. That means Los Angeles could lose him for free on the open market.
Moreno’s goal is to bring the World Series to Los Angeles. Ohtani’s extension is the biggest step towards realizing that dream. It remains to be seen if the Angels owner is willing to reach deep into his pocket to keep his former AL MVP status.
