Stan Kroenke’s arrival in Anaheim would instantly change the conversation around the Angels, and not just because of the money. If the new owner is serious about speeding up a turnaround, Tarik Skubal is the kind of headline swing that would announce the new era in a loud way.
Skubal is expected to be the biggest pitching prize on the market this offseason. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reported that he is on track to become the highest-paid pitcher in baseball when he signs his next deal, with a projected contract in the neighborhood of $355 million over eight years. That price tag is exactly the sort of number Kroenke could chase if he decides the best way to reshape the Angels is by landing an ace.
And there’s reason to believe he would at least consider it. Kroenke-owned teams, from the Denver Nuggets to the Los Angeles Rams, have not been shy about spending. If that same approach carries over to the Angels, free agency could get very interesting fast.
There’s no guarantee Skubal would choose Anaheim, even with a massive offer on the table. But the fit is easy to picture.
The Angels don’t need a small move to get people talking; they need a franchise-altering one. Skubal would be that.
The bar for Kroenke is already unusually low after Arte Moreno’s ownership, and that reality only sharpens the impact of any big move. If the Angels landed Skubal, it would do more than signal a fresh start. It would tell the rest of the American League that the Angels are done sitting still.
The AL West, as the article notes, has become the laughing stock of baseball, which leaves the door open for a dramatic climb. In theory, the Angels could go from worst to first in a single offseason if they pair a massive pitching addition with other smart moves. Skubal would be the centerpiece of that plan.
He’d also give the Angels a foundation that looks a lot more dangerous on paper. Reid Detmers is coming off a career year, and Walbert Ureña’s emergence adds another layer to the picture. Put those three together, and the Angels could suddenly have an elite pitching trio for the foreseeable future.
That would only matter more if the offense gets help too. The piece points to Teruaki Sato of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers as possible solutions, along with other solid free-agent additions. Stack enough of those moves around a Skubal signing, and the Angels start to look far less ordinary.
Of course, spending alone won’t guarantee anything. Steve Cohen’s Mets are the reminder there.
But with Kroenke’s championship-driven mindset and his tendency to stay hands-off, the Angels could at least have the kind of owner who is willing to build aggressively. If that happens, Skubal would be the obvious place to begin.
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