Angels Sale Hits Record $4 Billion Amid Payroll Cap Push
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Arte Moreno's sale of the Los Angeles Angels to Stan Kroenke marks a record MLB transaction while owners push for payroll limits in CBA talks.
As CBS Sports first reported, Stan Kroenke has reached an agreement to buy the Los Angeles Angels from owner Arte Moreno for a reported $4 billion. The deal sets a new record for a Major League Baseball franchise, edging out the recent $3.9 billion price tag for the San Diego Padres.
This record-breaking sale occurs as MLB owners and the league push for a payroll cap during ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. CBS Sports reports that owners claim a cap would improve parity and competitive balance, though the move is also viewed as a way to lower labor costs and increase franchise values.
Moreno's windfall is particularly notable given the Angels' recent performance. CBS Sports notes the team has endured 11 straight losing seasons, has not reached the postseason since 2014, and has not won a playoff game since 2005. Additionally, the team has employed seven managers since 2018 and has seen paid attendance drop by roughly half a million people per year since 2019.
Moreno originally purchased the team from the Walt Disney Company in 2003 for $180 million. CBS Sports calculates this as an annualized return of approximately 14.4%, a figure that exceeds typical stock market returns and estimated annualized returns for recent sales of the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Washington Commanders, and Denver Broncos.
While MLB owners have suggested that franchises are not selling for the same "revenue multiples" as NBA or NFL teams, the Angels and Padres sales prices were more than one-third higher than 2026 Forbes estimates of $2.8 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively.