Mike Trout Reacts to Stan Kroenke Buying Angels from Arte Moreno, Felt 'It Was Needed'

Mike Trout is ready for the next chapter of the Los Angeles Angels.

After Stan Kroenke agreed to purchase the American League West team from Arte Moreno for what Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reported will be more than the MLB record of $3.9 billion, the veteran told reporters he thought the sale "was needed."

He added, "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. We're all excited."

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Moreno has explored selling the Angels in the past but ended that process in January 2023. He purchased the organization for $182.5 million in 2003.

As for Kroenke, he is quite familiar with franchise ownership.

He holds ownership stake in the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Mammoth, and Arsenal men's and women's teams. He is now entering the Major League Baseball space and taking over a team that has struggled as Moreno's tenure continued.

The Angels were the reigning World Series champions when Moreno purchased them in 2003 and proceeded to make the postseason five times in a six-year span from 2004 through 2009. While they never advanced past the American League Championship Series, they were among the most consistent teams in the league.

But that has not been the case for more than a decade.

Los Angeles has made the playoffs just one time since 2009, and that was when it was swept in the 2014 AL Division Series.

Trout has been the face of the franchise for much of his career since he entered the majors in 2011. His resume includes three AL MVPs, an AL Rookie of the Year, nine Silver Slugger awards and 12 All-Star selections.

However, postseason success has not come with all of those individual accolades with Moreno owning the team.

Perhaps a change of ownership will bring more playoff appearances for the Angels, and Trout is looking forward to the next era.