The Los Angeles Angels haven't made the playoffs in more than a decade, but things are looking up for them - and things are looking worse for the Mariners.
At 64-74 and six games back in the mediocre American League West, and with their playoff hopes on life support, things don't look particularly good for the Seattle Mariners right now.
And frankly, the future just got a little bleaker on Tuesday as well, as the Los Angeles Angels were bought by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke.
The Angels have toiled in mediocrity for more than a decade and currently own the longest playoff drought in the sport. While the Mariners always find a way to struggle against them (it seems), it's generally been a reliable fact that the Angels will toil near the basement of the American League West, making things easier overall for Seattle.
That feels like it's going to end today.
As noted by Ari Meirov, who covers the NFL, Kroenke now owns teams in the NFL (Rams), NBA (Denver Nuggets), NHL (Colorado Avalanche), MLS (Colorado Rapids), NLL (Colorado Mammoth), EPL (Arsenal), and Women's Super League (Arsenal Women F.C.).
His teams have won titles in the NFL, NBA, NHL, Premiere League, NLL and Super League - all since 2022, meaning that Mariners fans can bank on the Angels becoming more well run - and more competitive - in the near future.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) shakes the hand of Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke following a game against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesHow about the money?
The Angels spent money under previous owner Arte Moreno, acquiring players like Josh Hamilton, CJ Wilson, Albert Pujols, Yusei Kikuchi and Anthony Rendon, so it's not necessarily the money spent on major league players that should scare the Mariners.
It's the money that can be spent on infrastructure. If the Angels get better on the scouting, player development, and drafting side, that's where things can really hurt the Mariners moving forward.
Because at that point, the Angels will be able to build a sustainable winner, and that's the real big problem for Seattle overall. It would probably take a few years still, but it could absolutely happen. It likely will. You couple the money that Kroenke can spend, with the advantages of playing in California, with a healthier top-down organization? That's a problem.
One thing Mariners fans can hope for
In the case of the Rams, they are ultra-aggressive, having traded away seemingly almost every first-round pick they've had over the last seven years or so. Perhaps Kroenke will get too overzealous and try to rush the turnaround of the organization, and maybe that will cause him to make some overaggressive moves which end up backfiring.
It's a hope, but not a guarantee.
Another piece of bad news...
Remember this: The Athletics are moving into their Las Vegas stadium in 2028 (reportedly), so they are going to stand to get more aggressive as well. They will want to open their Las Vegas tenure with a bang, and that should scare the Mariners too.
Of note
The most recent edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.
