With the Shohei Ohtani saga in the past, the Los Angeles Angels can now focus on their future. The problem is that the future seems nonexistent when it comes to this team.
The current owner of the franchise, Arte Moreno, has confirmed that he is no longer interested in selling his team to someone else and for Angels fans (and players), this is very bad news .
The Ohtani case and the end of the team's 2023 season were a disaster and the best is not yet to come, believe me. Difficult to attract new players in these circumstances.
The question is, when is Mike Trout going to have enough and demand changes within this dealership that we can almost call moribund?
Moreno's sale of the team gave some hope to fans who have followed this team for years, but the current owner's comments had a cold shower effect on most.
Sad reality, the team will be managed within the framework of a slimming regime and for Mike Trout, this means that he will not obtain the expected support in order to hope for more victories than defeats and a positive return at the end of the year. track.
Despite signing a few relief pitchers this offseason, the team's payroll is $173 million right now. Last year, when the regular season opened, it was $212 million.
In 2024, it will be ten years since the team last participated in the playoffs and the next few years may be very long.
A veteran and franchise player, Trout would be justified in demanding changes. For him and other members of the organization, a change of ownership would have been the best-case scenario, but it appears that this will not happen.
In addition to a poor performance expected on the field, several other problems loom on the horizon, including that of the renewal of the lease of Angel Stadium, scheduled for 2029. Renovations to the venerable home of the team would not be a luxury: the building dates from 1966. Again, Moreno does not say he is interested in a new stadium or in purchasing one, but he persists in continuing the rental mode.
In short, the situation is far from rosy within the team's entourage and unless he demands a change of scenery, Mike Trout will have to deal with the fact that this concession will mean inaction for a long time to come.
The loyalty shown by the star player thus far could crumble and the team's fans could face even darker years. It will take faith and a good dose of motivation to be a member of the Angels this season and those to come.
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