Even though the Baltimore Orioles could not be sold by Opening Day, supporters won’t have to wait very long, according to reports.
According to a person with knowledge of the sales process, as reported by Evan Drellich of The Athletic, it is expected to be completed by April, shortly after the Los Angeles Angels game on March 28.
“If we miss Opening Day, it’s not for lack of trying, but it should be shortly thereafter,” stated the individual.
The franchise is being bought by David Rubenstein’s ownership group from John Angelos, and according to Drellich, “only procedural hurdles remain, rather than substantive issues.” The $1.725 billion deal includes Angelos’ ownership of the local sports network MASN.
Since he has owned the bulk of the Orioles since 1993, it was a momentous development when it was announced in January that Angelos had planned to sell the team.
Despite winning the American League East in 2023, Baltimore has not had much success during Angelos’ leadership.
In thirty-one years, the team has only made it to the postseason six times, and it has never gone past the American League Championship Series. Since the 1983 campaign, which came before his ownership tenure, it has not won the World Series.
Throughout his tenure with the organization, Angelos has been known for his frugal spending, which has contributed to the team’s lack of success. According to Spotrac, even in 2023, when Baltimore won the division, the team’s salary ranked 29th out of 30.
For the upcoming season, it is ranked 23rd, much behind division rivals the Boston Red Sox (ranked 11th), Toronto Blue Jays (ranked fifth), and New York Yankees (ranked first).
Even with a change in ownership, the Orioles probably won’t be at the top of those payroll rankings, but settling more in the middle of the pack might help them be a constant contender in the AL East.