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Los Angeles Angels treatment of MiLBers an embarrassment

By David Hill

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: The logo on a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim equipment bag before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 22, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: The logo on a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim equipment bag before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 22, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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One could almost forgive the Los Angeles Angels for having other things on their mind than the state of their minor league players. After all, their previously agreed upon deal to purchase Angel Stadium is on hold amidst a corruption investigation being conducted by the FBI.

And there is that focus on the major league team. The Angels are desperately trying to return to the postseason, allowing them to stop wasting Mike Trout’s career while getting Shohei Ohtani on the biggest stage possible. Speaking of Ohtani, they are going to need to figure out an extension for his services soon, as he will be a free agent after the 2023 season.

Los Angeles Angels continue to ignore minor leaguers

With all of that going on, one can see where the minor leagues would have been forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind after all. Considering how the Angels have not had much of a system for years anyway, one can see where owner Arte Moreno may have completely forgotten that those minor leaguers exist.

But that is no excuse for the Angels’ treatment of their players. They are the only team in the AL West to neither provide housing for their minor leaguers nor pay them for their time in spring training. Even the A’s, baseball’s ultimate poverty franchise with feral cats and possums in their stadium, did better.

Being outdone by the A’s alone should be a reason for embarrassment. Even they have managed to provide adequate housing for their minor leaguers. The fact that the Angels, whose owner is worth an estimated $3.3 billion, cannot do the same is a joke.

Hopefully, this will change. Hopefully, the Angels will be able to look at the long term picture and realize that improving the lives of their minor leaguers will make a difference. Maybe then, they can see those prospects expected to become impact players at the major league level develop as expected.

Next. Ohtani and the Hall of Fame. dark

The Los Angeles Angels have done nothing to improve the lives of their minor leaguers. They are the only AL West team not to.

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