Angels Owner Arte Moreno to Break Habit and Sign Blake Snell? Lefty Ace’s Strong Interest Impacts Sweepstakes

A dominant starting pitcher and the Los Angeles Angels are not synonymous. At least not in recent years. Yes, they had the generational talent, Shohei Ohtani. But beyond the unicorn, the rotation has more often than not been a question mark. This offseason, however, could mark a turning point.

Reports of free agent ace Blake Snell signing with the Angels are finally out. Now one question stands. How will Arte Moreno, the team’s long-time owner, navigate the crossroads that he has found himself in? Will he continue shying away from big pitching contracts or is Snell on board? 

Will Arte Monero Break The Dry Spell On Bringing in Pitching Prowess

The 2018 Cy Young Award winner is a tier-one starter remaining on the free-agent market. The Angels, who are still recovering from the disappointment of losing Ohtani to free agency themselves, are reportedly vying for premium starting services. Snell appears to be a suitable fit, a promising one rather. How formidable would it be if Snell would be Ohtani’s replacement? But is Arte Moreno going to be reluctant to spend big on starting pitching again?

Moreno, who acquired the Angels in 2003, is surrounded by the optics of being a free-spender. Under the umbrella of his watch, the Angels flaunted offensive powerhouses like Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. But bear in mind that this habit has not reflected on the pitching side as evidently. In fact, the largest pitching contract Moreno has awarded so far was a modest five-year, $85 million in 2011, an extension to Jered Weaver. 

This habit of the owner has many people scratching their heads. A former Halos executive hints at Moreno’s preference for offense. There have been struggles in the playoffs during the 2000s against teams like the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. A key point to note here is that they relied on potent lineups to overpower them. This experience could be a possible explanation that left Moreno with a deep-seated bias in the power of the bat over the arm. 

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How Will Snell in Anaheim Contribute to the Angels’ Pitching Growth?

What are the likes of Blake Snell in the Angels jersey? Sure, the Angels have a chance to rewrite their pitching narrative. At 30, Snellzilla is still in his prime. Juxtaposing him with young, developing staff could be the final key to building a solid and established Angels team. Now one question remains unanswered – Will Moreno loosen the strings of his purse for a pitcher like Snell? 

Read More: Top MLB Teams That Need Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, as MLB’s Pitching Market Declines

It is established that the fans are eager for a change. For years, after watching their team struggle with consistent pitching, Snell’s arrival would be a breath of fresh air. A sustainable one, rather. But for this to happen, Arte Moreno would have to take a step he hasn’t historically been comfortable with. One can only wait and watch the tables turn.