Angels fire general manager Perry Minasian

Managerial experience obviously wasn’t a priority for the Angels, as their apparent top three candidates here were Albert Pujols, Suzuki and Torii Hunter. Suzuki, who concluded his 16-year big-league career in 2022 after spending his final two seasons with the Halos, had served as a special assistant to the GM for the organization the last three years.

Hunter has spent the last two seasons as a special assistant in Los Angeles’ front office working with general manager Perry Minasian, who is entering the final season of his contract. The 50-year-old former big leaguer played 19 seasons in the majors, including a half-decade run with the Angels from 2008-2012, and was a five-time All-Star selection. His connections to the organization, and reported close relationship with Halos owner Arte Moreno, make him a serious candidate for the position following skipper Ron Washington’s dismissal. The other big name that has surfaced is Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, who is considered the leading candidate at the moment.

The agreement, which was reported earlier on Thursday by Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, is now official following an announcement from the Angels. Minasian has been at the helm since the outset of the 2021 season and hasn’t been able to get Los Angeles back to the postseason despite having generational talents Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout on the roster for most of that stretch. Clearly, the Angels don’t have any intention of restructuring their front office until further down the road.

Yes, for real. The Angels haven’t had a winning season since 2015 when they were called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and they haven’t made the playoffs since 2014 when they were swept in the ALDS. Minasian, who was hired before the 2021 season has overseen the construction of a roster that has gone 277-336 despite having Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, two of the best players in all of baseball. During Minasian’s tenure, the Angels swung and missed on free-agent signings with Jose Quintana, Noah Syndergaard, Max Stassi, and Zach Plesac but failed to bring in much difference-making talent. In Minasian’s defense, MLB Pipeline currently ranks the Angels as the 29th-best farm system, so there’s one team in a worse situation when it comes to prospects than them. There’s just not a lot here to suggest he was deserving of an extension, and it’s hard to get excited about the Angels turning things around any time soon.

The official announcement from the team specifically said that the two parties have “mutually agreed to part ways.” Tamin worked with Angels general manager Perry Minasian with the Braves and eventually followed him to the Angels in November of 2020 to serve as his second-in-command. The Angels have continued to disappoint, including a 73-89 record this past season. Minasian will presumably look to hire a replacement in the days to come while also conducting manager interviews.

The contract extension, which was first reported by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Monday evening, is now official. Mozeliak has been with the Cardinals organization since 1996. He rose to become St. Louis’ general manager in 2007 and has served as the club’s president of baseball operations since 2017. He’s been at the helm for 15 consecutive winning seasons in St. Louis and will remain with the club for two additional seasons through 2025.

The deal will keep the 54-year-old executive in St. Louis through at least the 2025 season. Mozeliak came to the organization in 1995 and spent seven seasons working in the scouting department and then five as the assistant general manager to Walt Jocketty. Mozeliak then took over as the interim general manager when Jocketty left after the 2007 season -- serving in that capacity until he was promoted to his current title in June of 2017. He led the Cardinals to a World Series title in 2011 and a National League Pennant in 2013. The Cardinals are expected to formally announce the deal on Tuesday.

Cardinals assistant general manager and director of scouting Randy Flores has also received a new multi-year contract extension. Girsch has served as the Cardinals general manager since 2017 and was in the final year of his current contract. The pair will continue working with Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.

Wow. According to an official release from the team, Moreno has initiated a “formal process to evaluate strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the team.” Moreno purchased the Angels for $184 million back in 2003 and has overseen a tumultuous recent period in the franchise’s history in which the club hasn’t made the postseason since 2014.

Haynes spent nearly a decade with the Blue Jays, serving as their manager of baseball operations and pro scouting. He’ll work closely with newly-minted Angels GM Perry Minasian, whom he spent time alongside in Toronto’s front office, on all matters relating to player acquisition in Los Angeles.