In a startling transaction that ends Arte Moreno's once-successful and ultimately mercurial 23-year ownership, the Los Angeles Angels have been sold to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, adding to the Walmart heir's burgeoning sports portfolio.
Moreno, 80, bought the Angels for $184 million in 2003, inheriting a World Series-winning club and keeping the team's championship infrastructure in place as they won five division titles from 2004-2009.
Yet Moreno's addiction to signing fading veterans to massive contracts - such as Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols and Anthony Rendon - undermined the work his front office did and ultimately waylaid the career of future Hall of Famer Mike Trout, who debuted in 2012 and has not reached the playoffs since 2014.
That failure
led to dysfunction as the Angels have employed four general managers in the past 11 years. Current field manager Kurt Suzuki is on a one-year contract and unlikely to be retained after this 53-85 season.
Yet in Kroenke, whose purchase terms were not immediately available, there could be a scintilla of hope.
The Colorado Avalanche won Stanley Cup titles in 2001 and 2002 under Kroenke's leadership and the Los Angeles Rams, after moving from St. Louis and ultimately into state-of-the-art So-Fi Stadium in a deal engineered by Kroenke, won the Super Bowl in their home stadium in February 2022.
“The Moreno Family has been honored to steward the Angels for 23 years," Moreno said in a statement to news media outlets, "and we believe with KSE’s experience and success they are the best next owner for the franchise. The Angels Organization looks forward to continuing its commitment to the fans, our employees, the players and our business partners.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angels sold to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, ending Arte Moreno's disaster tenure
