Mark Trumbo grew up in Orange County during the peak of the Angels’ existence. He was 16 when they won the 2002 World Series, and 17 when Arte Moreno bought the franchise from the Disney Corporation in May 2003.
In 2010, Trumbo made his debut with his hometown team. He played for two winning teams over the next four seasons, the waning years of the Angels’ last run of success. They haven’t had a winning record since 2015, and haven’t reached the postseason since 2014 — the longest drought in MLB.
None of this was lost on Trumbo, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2013 following a 34-homer, 100-RBI campaign.
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Speaking about Moreno’s sale of the franchise to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Trumbo said on Tuesday’s episode of Halo Territory, “if this is the happiest you’ve ever made the fans, that’s kind of a tough one.
“There’s been good moments,” the two-time All-Star continued, “but for a long time it’s been rather depressing.”
Trumbo was not alone in breathing a sigh of relief over the team’s sale. The Angels are 53-85 through Monday, trudging toward what could be the first 100-loss season in franchise history. Throughout the season, fans have chanted “sell the team” and carried signs exhorting Moreno to do the same.
Tuesday, it finally happened.
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The sale is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, per the club’s announcement. It is subject to the approval of Major League Baseball.
Multiple reports Tuesday indicated the team was sold for a record $4 billion valuation. Interim general manager John Mozeliak told reporters that, when he was hired in June, he was told this was “a possibility.”
“I was definitely surprised, but it wasn’t a shocker,” Mozeliak said. “I think it’s exciting news for everybody. I think change is what I came in to try to start doing. I wasn’t thinking that it would be at the very top.”
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