The Los Angeles Angels have been sold to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke by Arte Moreno, a development that ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney suggests could open the door for a trade involving the team's star center fielder, Mike Trout.
Olney alluded to this possibility in a recent article, stating that the chances of Trout being traded are higher under new ownership. He noted that while Moreno was unlikely to trade a player of Trout's caliber and stature, a new owner might be more inclined to consider such a move, making a trade a "more viable option."
However, Olney also suggested that Trout might prefer to stay with the Angels initially to see how the team operates under its new leadership. Trout has spent his entire career with the Angels under Moreno's ownership, and a change in management could potentially alter the team's trajectory. Furthermore, trading Trout immediately after an ownership change might not create the positive first impression Kroenke would likely seek from Angels fans.
Kroenke's acquisition of the Angels reportedly set an MLB record at $4 billion, surpassing the recent sale of the San Diego Padres for $3.9 billion.