New Los Angeles Angels owner Stan Kroenke will tak over ownership in early 2027 as outgoing Angels owner Arte Moreno announced the team has been sold on Tue Sep 1, 2027 in Anaheim (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Long time Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno sold the Angels to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke in a transaction that is expected to close in early 2027 for $4 billion the announcement of the sale took everyone by surprise.
#2 Amaury you covered the Angels for many years doing their television broadcast seeing what the Angels have become of late and a mostly last place team over the last couple years did you see as time for Moreno to make that move and sell the team?
#3 Amaury talk about the dead period in baseball between the end of the World Series and Dec 5th when the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement expires. The owners say their going to get a salary cap one way or the other.
#4 Free agency will be allowed before Dec 21st. Winter meetings start Dec 21st and close later that day so it’s a short 24 window for free agency.
#5 Here’s where the rubber hits the road during a lockout there will be no free agent signing between Dec 21 and the beginning of Feb. In otherwords no free agent signings and no trades will be allowed.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
San Francisco Giants Rafael Devers (16) might not get picked up by a club before the trade deadline because of his huge remaining six years left on his contract which pays an average of $28 million per year. (AP News photo)
What the Giants need for next Season, if there is a Season
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
SAN FRANCISCO–Baseball is headed to a lockout by the baseball owners. Some say the players’ only leverage is to strike, maybe during this postseason. However, MLB players cannot strike because the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) remains in effect through December 1, 2026, which means labor peace is totally guaranteed during the playoffs.
The playoffs are during October and sometimes until November, with some World Series taking place that late in the year, but nobody plays in December. Players cannot strike. But owners have been telling everybody in the media they are ready to lock out the players. It would be inconceivable for the 2027 season as a whole not to be played; however, there is also a good chance they will not play 162 games. The only question is how long this lockout will last.
What about the Giants? What are they going to do to improve the product on the field? That is their biggest problem. Oracle Park is one of the most beautiful sports facilities in the world; fans are happy and enjoy taking their families and friends to watch the Giants play. This season has not been fun. The Giants will finish in either last or penultimate place this year, and that was not what Posey and the front office had in mind. Next week and a half could give us an idea of what they are thinking.
1-The Big Deal. Rafael Devers is making $27 million this season and is owed $28.5 million every year from 2027 through 2033. If the Giants trade him, somebody will have to pay him. Devers is not a failure; it is just that his production is close to average levels in the league and that 10-year $313.5 million total commitment is tough for any other baseball club to absorb. Can they trade him? And who needs Devers that badly to make the difference and win? There are only a few teams that would take Devers, not because of his play, but because of the money involved there.
2-Another Big Deal. Willy Adames with a huge contract and a full no-trade clause; Adames has underperformed at the plate. Adames’ contract, including his signing bonus of $22 million, is the largest total value contract in San Francisco Giants history, surpassing Buster Posey’s previous record. Adames and the Giants agreed to a seven-year $182 million contract, which was finalized in December 2024. Remember also, his full no-trade clause gives him the power to refuse any deal he doesn’t like. Is he going to be traded? You tell me, but I am not convinced he will.
3-The Easy One: Luis Arraez. This guy is just a solid star player who is a four time MLB All-Star, three time batting champion, and 2-time Silver Slugger winner; what is not to like here? Oh yeah, he also plays a very good defensive second base. He will be traded, and Giants fans will miss him. Arraez’s salary this year with the Giants is $12 million. And he is worth every penny.
The Chapman Chapter: Chapman’s manager in Oakland Bob Melvin’s favorite player in Oakland. The manager always talks big about Matt Chapman, and one of the reasons he crossed the bay to San Francisco to play for the Giants was because Bob Melvin was managing the Giants and he wanted him, and he got him.
The question is: what can Chapman bring in return to the Giants if they trade him? Nobody knows. But it is most likely that Matt Chapman will be traded. A Gold Glove third baseman who has won five Gold Glove Awards, two Platinum Gloves Awards, and one All-Star selection. At 33 years old, he is still a good player for any team that values defense, and he can also give you a big hit in a key moment in a game. I never underestimate Chapman. He will be traded. The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox can use a third baseman with experience, especially Boston.
Robbie Ray. A pitcher with lots of value. Since Webb is untouchable, Ray is the one starter that could fly away. Lots of teams can use a pitcher with his stuff. A Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star, he is somebody who will definitely help a team point to the postseason. Ray will change uniforms again soon; he has pitched for Detroit, Arizona, Toronto, Seattle, San Francisco, and soon_______?
The Giants have a dysfunctional bullpen: They need talented arms who can hold leads and close a game at any given time; the Giants lack all that. A major weakness for this team is relief meltdowns; they need more reliable arms and guys who can pitch in high-pressure situations. They have to find a way to have a better bullpen, because this 2026 version is not even close. There is no contending team without an established closer.
Note: When you think of any work stoppage, players’ strike or owners’ lockout, think of this. Major League Baseball has reached record-high gross revenues, hitting approximately $12.1 billion. This growth is driven by rising ticket sales, strong sponsorships, and massive individual franchise earnings. As we can see, any prolonged work stoppage is not good for anybody, and it could cause irreparable damage to the game’s reputation.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
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Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
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San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander (35) watches the pitchers throw at the Giants Cactus League park in Scottsdale AZ on Wed Feb 26, 2025 (AP News photo)
On MLB podcast with Michael Duca:
#1 Your going to spring training what are some of the things that your looking forward to at the Cactus League.
#2 Your going to be in Scottsdale the spring training home of the Giants and you’ve host the San Francisco Giants podcasts for us what are some the things that you’ll be looking for in spring training.
#3 Justin Verlander is the big name on the Giants pitching staff but there is no surprise that Logan Webb got the call for opening day starter.
#4 Verlander will be helping out the young pitcher Yoda he will be. He’s already help Hayden Birdsong moving from one side of the rubber to the other.
#5 Mike Trout connected for a spring training home run on Wednesday it was his first home run in ten months and he’s recovered from his back problems and hopes to be swinging the bats for the Los Angeles Angels for 2025.
#6 Michael, talk about Anthony Rendon he’s expected in camp for the Angels and has had suffered injuries keeping him out of the line up at times over the last two seasons.
#7 The Dodgers owe eight players $1 billion did the Dodgers get into the red with the inflated payroll that they have.
#8 The salary cap has been a well talked about issue as the Collective Bargaining Agreement is up after the 2026 season it’s an issue that could trigger a players strike.
Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers sporting a Rickey Henderson T shirt at Surprise Stadium in Surprise AZ before their game against the Kansas City Royals on Mon Feb 24, 2025 (Sacramento A’s X photo)
On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Amaury the Sacramento A’s open this first week at spring training in Mesa for the first time since 1968 without the Oakland moniker while it was expected it still sounds and feels very strange to those are following the A’s in Oakland and those who are following the club in Sacramento.
#2 Amaury, talk about the talk in spring training that baseball is moving down the list as a sport that no longer one of the most popular sports in America. That it’s viewership and interest has fallen and it might fall even worse now that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and ESPN are no longer working together.
#3 Amaury, matter of fact when you go to ESPN’s headline banner on the main page of their website MLB no longer appears as one of the major sports in the banner. It now just shows NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAM, and More Sports you have to now hunt for MLB on the banner. MLB is buried on the main page banner and ESPN barley mentions MLB in it’s news reports through it’s programming.
#4 How much responsibility does Manfred hold since he has two MLB teams playing in minor league parks for the 2025 regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays are going up for sale and they might move to Orlando, the A’s will not play any post season games in their interim park in Sacramento but at a neutral site if they make to the playoffs, the players are not happy that Manfred is using the robo umpire and they prefer the human umpire, and baseball could move to a salary cap after the 2026 season something the players oppose and could trigger a players strike.
#5 Just how confident are the San Francisco Giants in starting a 42 year old Justin Verlander and how successful will Verlander be in helping the Giants contend. There are those who say Verlander who suffered neck and shoulder pain last season at best could be a ten game winner. Some other critics say that Verlander is washed up.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame
