Angels Finally Eliminated: Kroenke Era Brings Hope to Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels became the first team in baseball to be mathematically eliminated from postseason contention after a 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Monday. Let's be honest, nobody saw this club reaching October anyway. This is a franchise that has now missed the playoffs for 12 straight seasons and is staring down its first 100-loss campaign in history.
Another offseason of failed prove-it deals
Last winter, the Angels did what they always do: signed past-their-prime players to prove-it contracts. Alek Manoah, Jordan Romano, and Jeimer Candelario fit that bill. Only Candelario remains in the organization, and he's toiling at Triple-A Salt Lake.
The club also brought in Kurt Suzuki as manager on a one-year deal and acquired Josh Lowe, Vaughn Grissom, and Grayson Rodriguez. Suzuki's future in Anaheim is doubtful, but the trades for Grissom and Rodriguez look like genuine wins.
Grissom has been slightly below league average at the plate but delivers real value with his defensive versatility across the infield. Splitting time at first, second, and third base has finally given him an everyday role, something he couldn't find with his previous club.
Rodriguez struggled early but posted a sub-3.00 ERA in August. His season numbers don't jump off the page, but he's shown that former top-10 prospect arm is still in there somewhere.
Arte Moreno's disastrous reign finally ends
Fired general manager Perry Minasian made some decent moves and some bad ones last offseason, but none were big enough to move the needle. The real problem has always been ownership. Arte Moreno has finally sold the team after years of holding the club and its fans hostage.
Moreno had a rare combination of spending big and being the cheapest owner in baseball. He handed out disastrous contracts to Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon, and Josh Hamilton, crippling the club's ability to build a competent roster around them.
He also refused to embrace analytics, something that's now non-negotiable for every serious franchise. He even dragged the team through a ridiculous naming saga, stripping the club of its Orange County roots.
The stories of Moreno's incompetence are endless: poor player facilities, and the unforgivable failure to get Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani to the postseason. That's all in the past now.
Stan Kroenke: A proven winner takes over
The standings still reflect Moreno's stain, but the sun is finally rising on this franchise. Stan Kroenke's $4 billion acquisition is expected to close by the first quarter of 2027. It can't come soon enough.
Kroenke's track record speaks for itself. He owns the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, the NBA champion Denver Nuggets, the NHL champion Colorado Avalanche, and English Premier League side Arsenal. The man knows how to build winners.
It may take a few more seasons before postseason baseball returns to Anaheim, but there's no doubt the future is brighter today than it was a week ago. The focus now needs to be on development and building a foundation to finally bury this dark era.
What does the future hold for the Angels?
The Kroenke era promises a complete franchise makeover. Expect modern analytics, upgraded facilities, and a real commitment to winning. The days of bargain-bin signings and empty promises are over.
Angels fans have suffered long enough. Help is on the way, and it comes with a proven championship pedigree. The American League West should be on notice.