Stubborn trade refusals and a fired GM haunt Anaheim as Arte Moreno’s failing strategy traps the Halos in a decade-long downward spiral of mediocrity and missed opportunities.
As poor and close as the American League West has been as we hit the halfway point of the 2026 season, the one certainty in the division is that the Los Angeles Angels are yet again not in contention for the division crown.
They hold a 36-50 record heading into Tuesday, which only puts them 7.0 games out of a Wild Card spot, which only gives the illusion of hope for owner Arte Moreno. That illusion of hope is the last thing Moreno needs to see, as his refusal to sell assets at the trade deadline is only validated by that misleading fact.
Unsurprisingly, Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly has given the Halos an ‘F’ grade halfway into the 2026 season. Another year, another season to forget for the Angels.
It’ll be the 12th consecutive year without reaching the postseason and 11th with a sub-.500 record for the Angels, barring an impossible turnaround in the second half of the season. Those facts are simply unacceptable for a baseball team with the advantages the Angels have been given.
For all the numerous talents that have chosen to play in Anaheim, such as Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Albert Pujols, and many more, there has been nothing to show for it. The only one to blame for that tragic outcome is Moreno himself – and the reason why is again on display this season.
Moreno is refusing to accept defeat and be a seller at the trade deadline. Despite career years from pitchers Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano, along with interest surrounding outfielder Jo Adell, Moreno will not cash in on any of the three.
His baffling decision may be the reason general manager Perry Minasian didn't even get to play out the final half of the season, as he was let go by Moreno just last week. It’s a big possibility that Minasian expressed his concern with Moreno’s intent to keep the team how it is despite the proven history of it not working, resulting in his departure.
The Angels are middle of the pack in terms of offensive production, have the eighth-worst team ERA, and have one of the worst bullpens in baseball – it’s no wonder why they are in last place in the AL West once again.
The only thing that could save this ‘F’-graded season for the Angels would be them finally accepting they are simply not a good team and actually doing something about it. By doing something about it, I mean selling at the deadline to get valuable assets in return to build a foundation in the future. It means signing players on more than one-year rentals and not just players that are clearly past their peaks.
Of course, those things won’t happen under Moreno; however, as he has proved, his strategy is the exact opposite. Going as far as to claim winning isn't a priority for the fans, it’s clear that Moreno’s only concern is his pockets. Expect nothing less than laughable seasons from the Angels as long as he’s at the helm.
