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MLB insider shares new Angels ownership could be handcuffed during free agency
The Angels may be unable to pursue major free agents promptly because MLB approval of the team’s sale to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is still pending. Ken Rosenthal says the delay could prevent the club from appointing a new baseball operations chief or negotiating with players such as Tarik Skubal before the 1 December lockout deadline.
The sale was announced last summer, and the Angels said approval might not come until the end of the first quarter of 2027. In the meantime, the club needs to rebuild its leadership after dismissing manager Kurt Suzuki following its first 100-loss season and deciding not to retain interim general manager John Mozeliak. Rosenthal says hiring a president of baseball operations is a November priority, followed by appointments of a general manager and manager.
In short
- The pending sale could delay the Angels’ free-agent plans.
- MLB approval may not arrive until early 2027.
- The club must rebuild its baseball leadership.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A pending sale can leave the Angels without clear authority to make major commitments, and appointing new leadership before MLB approval could create uncertainty over who is accountable for the club’s direction. Waiting may protect the incoming ownership’s ability to choose its own executives and avoid rushed decisions during a sensitive transition.
The case against
The delay risks leaving the Angels unable to compete for players or establish baseball leadership during a crucial part of the off-season, potentially worsening the consequences of a 100-loss season. The club could argue that it should use the authority it has now to make timely appointments and pursue talent, while coordinating with the prospective owners and MLB to manage the transition.
Explained simply
The Los Angeles Angels are a Major League Baseball team based in California. They are being sold to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, a sports and entertainment company, but the deal needs approval from MLB, the league that oversees its teams.
The club has recently dismissed manager Kurt Suzuki and is not keeping interim general manager John Mozeliak. It needs to appoint leaders for baseball operations, including a president, a general manager and a manager. These roles shape decisions about the team’s roster and direction.
Free agents are players whose contracts have ended and who can negotiate with other teams. Tarik Skubal is a prominent pitcher the Angels may consider pursuing; MLB’s scheduled lockout deadline is 1 December. The timing matters because ownership approval and leadership appointments can affect who is authorised to make decisions for the club.