Peralta Says He’s Trying to Buy Angels

MINNEAPOLIS — Mexican billionaire Carlos Peralta confirmed Tuesday that he is negotiating with the Walt Disney Co. to buy the Angels and said he believes he is one of three bidders in a process he figures could take “three or four months.”

Two other suitors--former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth and the Nederlander family--have expressed interest in the Angels. The Nederlander family, one of the first names in American theater, includes two brothers who are limited partners in the New York Yankees.

Disney has applied for permission to share confidential financial data with the Nederlanders but has not yet done so for Peralta, a highly placed baseball source said Tuesday.

Peralta, who owns one Mexican League team and holds a minority share in another team, attended the Angels’ regular-season finale last month and said he noted many Latinos in the sellout crowd. Under Disney management, and under the previous Autry family management, the Angels have failed to develop a significant fan base in the Latino neighborhoods of Anaheim and Santa Ana.

“I like that the team is in an area with a dense Latino population,” Peralta told Reuters.