Arte Moreno and his family announced that they would end the process of selling the Los Angeles Angels. This announcement comes just five months after the family originally announced the team sale on September 23rd. The news comes to the dismay of Angels fans everywhere, who originally celebrated the family’s decision to sell the team.
Today, the #Angels announced that the Moreno Family is ending the exploratory process to sell the team and will continue ownership throughout the 2023 Season and beyond. pic.twitter.com/aokYfba1Dp
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) January 23, 2023
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Arte Moreno and the Angels
In the twenty years of Moreno’s ownership, the Angels own just ten winning records. The 2022 season, however, proved to be one of the most tumultuous years in franchise history. The Angels finished the year with another lackluster record and now share the longest active playoff drought with the Detroit Tigers. Off the field, the Angels remained the topic of controversy. Former Angels employee Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison due to Tyler Skaggs’ death. The failed sale of Anaheim stadium to Arte Moreno also cast suspicion on the Angels for their involvement with former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu, who resigned amid corruption allegations.
The Future of the Franchise
The Moreno family cites “unfinished business” as their decision to keep the franchise. In their announcement, the Moreno family also highlighted their commitment “to a franchise record player payroll” this past offseason. The Angels remained busy throughout the winter, significantly improving their roster. Recent additions like Gio Urshela, Brandon Drury, and Hunter Renfroe provide depth and offensive consistency to a recently lacklustre lineup. These acquisitions and the signing of starting pitcher Tyler Anderson demonstrate a reinvigorated push to snap their playoff drought.
While a successful 2023 season would go a long way to restoring trust in this team’s ownership, Shohei Ohtani’s fate will ultimately dictate the fan’s attitude. Letting the superstar walk in free agency or shipping him out at the deadline may further isolate fans. On the other hand, breaking the bank with a nearly $500 million extension may choke the team’s payroll flexibility in the coming years. Regardless, fans are left nervously optimistic as the Angels vie for playoff contention in 2023.
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Players mentioned:
Tyler Skaggs, Gio Urshela, Brandon Drury, Hunter Renfroe, Tyler Anderson, Shohei Ohtani
