Changes are coming for the Los Angeles Angels and that very well may be for the best.
Los Angeles has been a dumpster fire for a long time. The Angels have talent. There's no denying that. They have employed Mike Trout for a long time. The 35-year-old is the modern-day Mickey Mantle and yet the Angels have struggled pretty much every year of his illustrious career.
Trout is in his 16th season as a member of the Angels and he has played in just three playoff games. That almost sounds impossible, but it's the reality of the Angels.
Changes are coming, though. Billionaire Stan Kroenke is expected to buy the Angels for a record $4 billion valuation, as shared by ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.
Kroenke knows a thing or two about owning a professional sports franchise. He currently owns the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Mammoth, Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards, and the Waggoner Ranch. Now, he's going to add the Angels to the list.
On Tuesday, Trout spoke about the move and there are "no hard feelings," but the move was necessary.
"I mean, you kind of felt that way, it was needed. No hard feelings to Arte. But I'm super excited. The guys are excited. There's a good vibe around the clubhouse, vibe around the stadium," Trout said, as transcribed by Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune.
Trout continued.
“You look at the track record, I know one thing that's gonna be on his mind is get to the World Series, win a championship. As a player, it makes you feel good to have that and to feel that.”
The Angels certainly got a good one in Kroenke, who already wants to build a new stadium.