The Los Angeles Angels are set for a change in ownership, with Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke agreeing to purchase the MLB franchise from Arte Moreno. Kroenke’s company announced the agreement on Tuesday, with the sale expected to be completed in early 2027 after receiving approval from Major League Baseball.
The deal is reportedly worth $4 billion, which would make it the most expensive MLB franchise sale in history, according to The Athletic. That figure surpasses the $3.9 billion paid for the San Diego Padres earlier in 2026. The Angels were valued at $2.8 billion by Forbes in March, highlighting the significant premium attached to the franchise in the reported sale.
Stan Kroenke Agrees to Buy Angels in Reported $4 Billion Record Sale
The Los Angeles Angels are heading toward a change in ownership after Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke agreed to purchase the MLB franchise from Arte Moreno. The Angels confirmed the agreement Tuesday, with Kroenke saying the club has an “exciting future.” Moreno, who has owned the team since 2003, said his family “has been honored to steward the Angels for 23 years.” The sale is expected to be completed in early 2027, pending MLB approval.
The reported $4 billion price tag would make the Angels the most expensive MLB franchise sale ever, surpassing the $3.9 billion San Diego Padres deal earlier this year. Moreno bought the Angels from the Walt Disney Company for $180 million and initially enjoyed considerable success, with the team reaching the postseason five times in his first seven years. However, the Angels have not returned to the playoffs since 2014, giving them the longest active postseason drought in MLB.
Moreno’s tenure was also defined by expensive moves that failed to deliver sustained success. The signings of Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Anthony Rendon created major financial commitments, while the Angels struggled to build around Mike Trout after drafting him in 2009. Even the arrival of Shohei Ohtani could not push the team into the postseason, and the Japanese star eventually left for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, winning two World Series soon after joining them.
Kroenke brings a strong track record of ownership across American sports, with stakes in the Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids and Colorado Mammoth. His franchises have won multiple major championships, including Super Bowls, Stanley Cups, an NBA title and an MLS Cup. Turning the Angels around, however, will be a significant challenge, with the team yet to record a winning season since 2015. Kroenke will now inherit a roster with promising young players but plenty of work still needed both on the field and around the franchise.
MLB’s Seven Most Expensive Franchise Sales
| Rank | Franchise | Year | Sale Price | Buyer / Ownership Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angels | 2026 | More than $3.9 billion | Stan Kroenke |
| 2 | Padres | 2026 | $3.9 billion | José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones’ group |
| 3 | Mets | 2020 | $2.4 billion | Steve Cohen |
| 4 | Dodgers | 2012 | $2.15 billion | Guggenheim Baseball Management |
| 5 | Orioles | 2024 | $1.725 billion | David Rubenstein’s group |
| 6 | Rays | 2025 | $1.7 billion | Patrick Zalupski’s group |
| 7 | Marlins | 2017 | $1.2 billion | Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter’s group |
With the Angels now set for a new era under Stan Kroenke, the reported $4 billion deal is also poised to reshape the MLB ownership record books, making it the latest in a series of major franchise sales in recent years.
