Athletics, White Sox, More Tabbed as MLB's Worst Organizations in Player Survey

The Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics are the three worst teams in the American League right now, and their reputation precedes them away from the field as well.

The Athletic conducted a poll of more than 100 MLB players on a variety of topics. The Athletics, White Sox and Angels were the three highest vote-getters when 79 of the respondents listed off the teams with "bad reputations."

With 40 votes, Oakland was included on more than half the ballots. Chicago and Los Angeles got 19 and 10 votes apiece. The Colorado Rockies (10 votes) and New York Mets (eight votes) rounded out the top five.

When it came to the A's, multiple players referenced the organization's impending relocation. One criticized the Athletics' treatment of their fans, and another questioned whether "they can't find something better" than their temporary home of Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, starting in 2025.

The comments on the White Sox were perhaps more withering.

"I've never heard a good thing," one player said.

Another told The Athletic that "it sounds like no one wants to be there day in and day out."

The A's, White Sox and Angels all share a common theme: bad owners.

Athletics principal owner John Fisher let Oakland Coliseum steadily fall into disrepair and his unwillingness to spend helped to further drive fans away. That the team will have to play in Sacramento is a sign of how poorly the relocation process has unfolded, too.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf appears content to deliver a mediocre product on the field as long as revenues are increasing. The 88-year-old hasn't acted like he owns a team in one of the biggest media markets in the country.

Spending hasn't been the problem with Angels owner Arte Moreno. Instead, Los Angeles has watched a series of marquee acquisitions blow up in its face. The once-popular Moreno has earned a reputation for involving himself too much in baseball decisions.

The bad news for fans of the three teams is that the owner is the one guy you can't fire. Should The Athletic perform this exercise in 2025, there's a good chance the A's, Angels and White Sox will all be near the top of the list again.