In August 2022, Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno announced that he would explore a possible sale of the franchise.
He had several bidders in place, but in January 2023, decided not to sell the team.
The decision was met with controversy, as specialists said that if he ever entertains the possibility in the future, potential buyers won’t trust him to complete the process.
Sam Blum, who covers the Angels for The Athletic, has been critical of Moreno’s actions over the last few months.
He had a conversation with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred about the Angels, and shared all the details.
I asked Rob Manfred today why he believes Arte Moreno not selling is a good thing for the Angels given the loss/controversy.
You’ll remember he released a glowing statement about Moreno last month after the Angels’ owner change of heart.
Here’s what he said: pic.twitter.com/K9FBaFMJif
—Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 15, 2023
Manfred called Moreno, who has been the owner of the Angels since 2003, a “good steward for the game”.
There is a lot of negativity surrounding the Angels, mainly because they have consistently shown that they are a dysfunctional franchise.
But they at least try: Moreno approved the signing of Albert Pujols at the start of the last decade, extended Mike Trout, and recruited Shohei Ohtani, among other big free agent signings.
It’s not for a lack of investment: they just need to find a way to run a baseball franchise efficiently.
They haven’t found one in years, so we don’t know if the Angels will be competitive with Moreno at the helm.
Still, they currently have a great offense and the pitching could be improved in 2023.
They are nowhere near the Houston Astros in the AL West, but could potentially fight for a playoff berth via the Wild Card.
Will they retain Ohtani beyond this season?
How long will it be until Moreno entertains selling again?
We will find out the answers to these questions in due time.
NEXT:
Shohei Ohtani Comments On His Angels Future
