The Los Angeles Angels’ Year of Change Continues
Tuesday marked a significant day in Angels history, as owner Arte Moreno decided to sell the team to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke.
The Los Angeles Angels have had a year filled with change. First, they changed their ways from handing out large contracts to overpriced, past-their-prime veterans. Then, a few months ago, general manager Perry Minasian was fired after another poor start to the season.
Today marked the biggest, and perhaps most significant, change yet, as owner Arte Moreno decided to sell the team to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke.
Moreno has owned the team since 2003, ending his 23-year run as owner. While the Angels had success earlier in his ownership, the team has not posted a winning record since 2015, and at 53-85, that streak is only going to continue.
The Change That Needed to Happen
Over the past several years, the Angels have become one of the most disappointing franchises in baseball. Sure, a number of teams have won fewer games than the Angels, but few have underwhelmed more.
A franchise with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani did nothing of significance before Ohtani left for the intrastate rivals in blue. Big contracts were signed only to become examples of what teams need to avoid. Players quit, others wish they could.
The Angels went from a team with a superstar and promise to one that was always coming up short. The excuses looked different from year to year, but the results were the same. I’ll give them credit. Spending money and attempting to improve wasn’t the problem. The problem was almost always missing on free agent signings, failing to build a reliable farm system, and ignoring reality when it came time to face a rebuild and trade away talent.
Moving on from Minasian was long overdue. You don’t usually see a general manager get to fumble as many times as he did while continuing to keep his job. Once he was fired, I thought the organization took a step in the right direction with John Mozeliak serving in an interim role.
Finding the right long-term replacements within the front office is going to be a challenge, but at least a new person will be making those hiring decisions. Regardless of what you think about ownership or Minasian, major change was obviously needed as success became more and more rare.
Who’s ultimately to blame? I’ll let you all debate. To me, the debate is worthless, as anyone who should shoulder the blame is now out of the picture. A failed system from drafting to development to pro scouting. No team in the league needed a completely fresh start as much as the Angels, and they now have it.
For fans, I’m sure there’s a celebration. Or, at least, a sign of relief. Change, even if you view it as just for the sake of change, is good. The grass is not always greener on the other side, but for Angels fans, I think they are more than willing to find out.
What’s Ahead in Anaheim
Anytime there is a change in ownership, it usually comes with vast changes throughout the organization. Well, the Angels are starting with a clean slate, which will allow new owner Stan Kroenke the ability to select his front office without many difficult conversations.
Kroenke is a billionaire who is no stranger to owning sports franchises. Not only does he own the Rams (NFL), but he also owns the Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Rapids (MLS), and Arsenal of the Premier League. Adding an MLB team, which was reportedly purchased for $4 billion, will help round out his collection.
While each league brings its own unique challenges and circumstances, success has followed Kroenke. The Rams, Nuggets, and Arsenal have all won titles, with the Avalanche consistently being in contention for a Stanley Cup for a number of years.
Putting the Angels in the same category of success is going to take time.
The Angels are going to have to endure a true rebuild. The beginnings of one started at the deadline, but more moves will have to take place. As it currently stands, the farm system is not nearly where it needs to be to track toward success. Drafting will need to improve, as will development.
John Mozeliak has a history of success in both areas, and removing the interim tag makes sense. He already was in charge during the draft and deadline this season, and I’m not sure there’s a better fit for the near future. Changes are going to take time, and building the initial foundation, which Mozeliak already has, is the most important step.
Final Thoughts
I’m sure there are a number of fan bases jealous of the Angels’ situation. There’s a sentence we haven’t heard in several years. Owners can tank a franchise and fanbase, with the repercussions lasting years, if not decades. Getting an owner with a proven track record and clearly plenty of money is a dream.
How quickly can the Angels turn around the franchise? I’m sure not as quickly as fans hope. Trading away Zack Neto and Reid Detmers would certainly lift the farm system, but that’s a different discussion for a different day. For now, Angels fans, you can exhale. Change is here.
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