Stan Kroenke is set to finally acquire his MLB team, and the financial implications are likely to shake up the market significantly.
On Tuesday, the Rams owner reached an agreement to buy the Angels from Arte Moreno, with the deal expected to exceed the $3.9 billion recently paid for the Padres, thus making it the highest-priced franchise sale in baseball’s history.
There’s no official figure released yet.
If this transaction is finalized at the anticipated price, it will continue a trend of massive sales that have changed the valuation of MLB teams.
Once, the Dodgers’ sale for $2.15 billion in 2012 seemed monumental. Then there was Steve Cohen’s $2.4 billion acquisition of the Mets in 2020, which pushed prices even higher. Most recently, the Padres fetched $3.9 billion in 2026.
Now, it appears the Angels are set to up the ante once again.
For Kroenke, who was a finalist in the 2012 bidding for the Dodgers, this moment carries a certain irony: Fourteen years later, he’s likely to pay almost double to secure his entry into the world of baseball.
The list of the highest MLB franchise sales looks like this:
1. Angels — 2026: Over $3.9 billion
Kroenke’s acquisition is projected to set a new record for the league.
2. Padres — 2026: $3.9 billion
José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones’ purchase briefly established the previous record for baseball sales.
3. Mets — 2020: $2.4 billion
Steve Cohen acquired the Mets from the Wilpon and Katz families.
4. Dodgers — 2012: $2.15 billion
The Guggenheim deal surpassed Kroenke’s group, which was also in the running.
5. Orioles — 2024: $1.725 billion
David Rubenstein’s group took over the franchise from the Angelos family.
6. Rays — 2025: $1.7 billion
Tampa Bay was sold by Stuart Sternberg to Patrick Zalupski’s group.
7. Marlins — 2017: $1.2 billion
Miami was bought from Jeffrey Loria by Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter’s team.
While missing out on the Dodgers was a significant moment for Kroenke, he didn’t remain idle in the intervening years. His Rams secured a Super Bowl victory, and both the Nuggets and Avalanche achieved championships as well.
Now, he finally steps into the realm of baseball.
What once was a lost opportunity back in 2012 is shaping up to cost him more than he might have imagined—over twofold, in fact.
