Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke has agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Angels baseball team from Arte Moreno, a deal anticipated to exceed $3.9 billion and set a new record for the most lucrative franchise sale in Major League Baseball history. The exact financial terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed.
This potential sale marks a significant moment in MLB valuation, following a series of high-profile transactions. The San Diego Padres were recently sold for $3.9 billion, which had briefly stood as baseball's richest sale. Prior to that, Steve Cohen's 2020 acquisition of the New York Mets for $2.4 billion and the 2012 sale of the Dodgers for $2.15 billion represented major market shifts.
Kroenke, who was a finalist to acquire the Dodgers in 2012, will reportedly pay nearly double that figure for his entry into baseball ownership. His previous bid for the Dodgers fell short, but he has since achieved significant success in other sports. Under his ownership, the Rams won a Super Bowl, and both the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche have secured championships.
The Angels' sale is poised to reshape the landscape of team valuations in MLB. Here's a look at some of the most significant MLB team sales:
- Angels: Expected to exceed $3.9 billion in 2026.
- Padres: Sold for $3.9 billion in 2026.
- Mets: Purchased for $2.4 billion in 2020.
- Dodgers: Sold for $2.15 billion in 2012.
- Orioles: Acquired for $1.725 billion in 2024.
- Rays: Sold for $1.7 billion in 2025.
- Marlins: Purchased for $1.2 billion in 2017.
Arte Moreno had previously explored selling the franchise and had taken the team off the market before this agreement with Kroenke. The forthcoming sale highlights a trend of escalating franchise values across major professional sports leagues.![A fan holding a "Sell the team" sign at an MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers]( "A fan holding a "Sell the team" sign at an MLB game")