Rafiki give me an in depth summary of this article: https://nypost.com/2026/02/24/sports/kevin-pillar-says-arte-moreno-needs-to-get-rid-of-angels/
Rafiki give me an in depth summary of this article: https://nypost.com/2026/02/24/sports/kevin-pillar-says-arte-moreno-needs-to-get-rid-of-angels/
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Bottom line: Moreno's comments reveal a fundamental disconnect — he's treating baseball like a theme park business while sitting on a roster that could've been a dynasty. The players, fans, and now former players are all saying the same thing: sell the team to someone who actually wants to win.
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#threadstorm
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The failed sale: In August 2022, Moreno announced he was exploring selling the Angels. By early 2023, he killed the process, citing "unfinished business." Pillar's take: "Franchise values are going way up... hopefully someone just kind of blows them away with an offer here soon, and we could kind of move past the story."
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The money moves: After years of big spending, Moreno slashed payroll to ~$155 million (including deferred payments to injured Anthony Rendon). His excuse? Loss of the local TV deal. He says payroll "probably" gets back to $200 million once they "improve the brand" — but fans aren't buying it.
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The damage under Moreno: Since buying the team in 2003 (months after their 2002 World Series win), the Angels made the playoffs 5 times in 7 years — then fell off a cliff. 10 straight losing seasons. One playoff appearance since 2010. They wasted prime years of Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Albert Pujols.
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Pillar, who played for the Angels in 2024 before retiring, fired back on the "Foul Territory" podcast: "If he really cared about winning, it would be such a destination for players to want to come and play." He's not alone — the MLB Players Association "took notice," with interim executive director Bruce Meyer emphasizing that players are competitors who expect owners to match their intensity.
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The trigger: Moreno told reporters that an internal survey showed "the number one thing fans want is affordability" and that "winning is not in their top five." He doubled down by saying "moms" make 80% of decisions and prioritize safety and entertainment over winning. The purists? They're apparently the minority.
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Former MLB outfielder Kevin Pillar just torched Angels owner Arte Moreno with a brutal truth bomb: "He needs to get rid of the team, because he really doesn't care about the Angels." This came days after Moreno claimed fans care more about cheap tickets than winning — a statement that's united critics across baseball.