Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno isn’t going anywhere. Moreno doesn’t plan on selling the Angels as the fanbase continues to be frustrated with the owner, and rightfully so. On Wednesday, Moreno conducted an interview with a local news outlet at Angels camp. Jeff Fletcher from the SoCal News Group shared what Moreno said if he was planning on selling.
Arte Moreno spoke to the @SoCalNewsGroup today. Among the topics: whether he’s selling the team.
“I am here long term. There are some people that come back and some people knew I had it on the market (in ’22). I basically said it’s not on the market.”
More to come…
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) February 14, 2024
Moreno sang the same tune when he was asked by Sam Blum from The Athletic. Moreno gave a one-word answer: “No.”
Angels Owner Holding Team Back
Angels fans are not going to like what was said above. The Angels are coming off a quiet offseason as they are starting their first spring training without Shohei Ohtani. However, Moreno is reportedly holding the team back from signing Blake Snell. It’s no surprise why the Angels owner approval rating has declined over the years. They let the best player in baseball walk for nothing. There is no stadium set and no path to a winning team. The only bright thing going for the club is having Mike Trout long-term, but he needs more help than what he has.
Reluctant to Spend on Starters
Snell has been tied to the Angels this offseason, but he wants a contract of at least $200 million. Interestingly enough, since becoming the Angels’ owner, Moreno has never given $100 million to a starting pitcher. It is partly due to Moreno’s preference to spend money on offense. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, an anonymous source spoke about that.
“One former Angels executive, granted anonymity so he can speak candidly, believes Moreno’s preference for offense stems from the playoff defeats the Angels suffered in the 2000s to slugging teams — three to the Red Sox, one to the Yankees.”
Moreno’s Work As Owner
1,956 people responded to this question. Based on the votes, Moreno has yet to be an excellent owner. His popularity has taken a tumble in the last year. He was not popular in 2023, but more fans are willing to give him a chance. Essentially, the Angels are in chaos mode. Some controversies follow the franchise. Moreno declined to match the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offer to Ohtani. Fans are not happy for many reasons, losing first and foremost.
Photo Credit: © Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
