Mike Trout Seeks Insight on New Owner from Rams Players
After the Angels announced Stan Kroenke's purchase of a controlling stake, Mike Trout and teammate Zach Neto contacted Rams players to learn about Kroenke's ownership style. ESPN's Buster Olney suggested the sale could affect Trout's future with the team. Kroenke's track record includes championships with the Rams, Avalanche, Nuggets, and Arsenal.
Trout and shortstop Zach Neto directly contacted members of the Rams roster to gauge what life under Kroenke's ownership entails, a sign that current Angels players are actively assessing the franchise's new direction before the sale closes in early 2027. The deal transfers control from Arte Moreno, whose tenure since 2003 produced just one playoff appearance after 2009 despite rostering Trout and Shohei Ohtani simultaneously.
Kroenke brings a decorated portfolio to Anaheim, with championship victories across the Rams, Avalanche, Nuggets, and both Arsenal squads. His controversial relocation of the Rams from St. Louis in 2016 remains a sore spot in Missouri, though that history appears irrelevant to the Angels' stable Southern California footprint. ESPN's Buster Olney framed the ownership change as potentially reshaping Trout's long-term commitment to the franchise.
This ownership transition could reshape how star players approach loyalty in modern baseball, as Trout's willingness to seek outside input signals a more pragmatic evaluation of front-office competence. Fans in Anaheim may feel renewed optimism after decades of underachievement, while the broader league could see this as a test case for whether deep-pocketed owners with multi-sport experience can reverse a franchise's trajectory. The outcome may influence how other aging superstars weigh contract security against competitive ambition.