Angels Fans Take Out Their Frustration of Losing Shohei Ohtani on Arte Moreno

Just a week after former two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani announced that he was heading to the crosstown Los Angeles Dodgers, things continue to look bleak for the Angels. Fans have been taking their frustrations with losing Ohtani to L.A. out on owner Arte Moreno.

Their critique is not merely a knee-jerk reaction.

After Ohtani announced his decision on Instagram last weekend, it was reported that Moreno declined to match the record-setting, 10-year, $700 million contract that Ohtani signed with L.A.

The Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants both matched the Dodgers' offer, according to reports. Ohtani's camp gave the Angels a chance to match it, but Moreno declined.

This isn't sitting well with a fan base that wanted nothing more than to see Ohtani start and end his career in Anaheim. Moreno already was unpopular with fans after exploring — then reneging — on a possible sale of the team one year ago. Ohtani meant everything to the Angels organization, and to see him leave like this is difficult for fans to swallow.

Here are some reactions toward Moreno on social media this week:

1000000%

Completely spot on! pic.twitter.com/YHS9eN0Tc5
— Joe | 643 Baseball (@643Baseball_yt) December 15, 2023

Absolute circus with Arte at the healm.
— REGGIE HACKSON III (@ReggieintheOC) December 16, 2023

Nice picture...the only awards Arte will ever hold will be someone else's.
— thepublicme (@thepublicme1) December 16, 2023

The annual Arte Moreno failure checklist:

- signed Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, and Anthony Rendon to a combined 22 years / $624M in contracts

- has failed to invest in the minor league system

- never made the playoffs with Trout and Ohtani both on roster

- active 9 year… pic.twitter.com/NUP9pvqoB4
— Jake (@D1SCHER) December 9, 2023

I WILL NEVER FORGIVE ARTE MORENO FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE

we all know he's gonna do jackdiddly squat with the money he's now "saved". shohei ohtani shoulda been an angel for life im so pissed off again https://t.co/nEKSCzFrry pic.twitter.com/6cPXuepGlm
— 🐧🧋 VforVera¹⁷🧋🐧 wants to start a band (@VforVintageVera) December 15, 2023

Not a single person should be mad at Ohtani. This is 1000% on Arte Moreno.
— Number One Arte Fan (@CantHitWRISP) December 9, 2023