The Angels’ front office search has already gotten trickier, and the Astros just made it even messier.
Houston recently fired general manager Dana Brown, adding another opening to a division that has seen plenty of executive turnover this season. The A’s moved on from David Forst, the Angels moved on from Perry Minasian, and now the Astros have jumped into the shuffle. With all three AL West clubs potentially chasing the same pool of candidates, the Angels may have a harder time landing the kind of top-tier talent they want.
There is, though, one important wrinkle that works in the Angels’ favor: John Mozeliak is already in the building and has started reshaping things. While it is not guaranteed he stays in some long-term role, it would be a surprise if he were not part of the next setup.
Mozeliak has been handed the authority to influence both the MLB Draft and the trade deadline, and that makes his status especially important. If the Angels give him the power to help set the direction of the organization and then he walks away, that would raise real questions about how stable the operation is behind the scenes.
If Mozeliak remains as president of baseball operations and the Angels then hire a GM underneath him, that could make the job less attractive to some of the biggest names on the market. The most sought-after candidates usually want the chair at the head of the table, not a role where someone else is clearly running baseball operations. That could push the Angels toward younger executives who may not have the same track record but would be open to working under Mozeliak’s umbrella.
That’s where a few names could fit. Eve Rosenbaum, an assistant general manager with the Orioles, stands out as one possibility.
Another is Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine, coming from a Milwaukee front office that has built a strong reputation. Moisés Rodríguez is also a logical fit, especially given that he has been with the Cardinals since 2007 and already knows Mozeliak well.
The larger problem for the Angels is that the AL West has turned into a crowded market for front office jobs. Weak division or not, those openings can still tempt candidates who think they can help turn things around. But if Mozeliak stays involved, the Angels may be able to appeal to a different type of candidate - one looking for a chance to move up and take on more responsibility.
In Other News...
Angels Face A Kikuchi Decision That Could Speed Up The Rebuild
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With one year left on his contract, Kikuchi also gives the Angels a chance to make the kind of decision that can shape a rebuild. Trading him would trim salary and open more major league innings for the young arms the organization is developing, giving those pitchers a clearer path while helping the club reallocate resources toward the long view. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Just Lost Depth As Their Outfield Squeeze Gets Harder To Ignore
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The move sends Marlowe back into free agency, where he will look for another opportunity after spending parts of two seasons in the big leagues with the Mariners. For the Angels, it is another reminder that even solid minor league production does not guarantee a lane to the roster when the outfield is already jammed. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Neto Is Rolling But One Flaw Still Limits His Ceiling
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The hot streak also showed a slightly different version of Neto at the plate, with his strikeout rate improving for a stretch. Even so, the one issue that keeps hovering over the bigger picture is plate discipline, especially the low walk totals that continue to cap the ceiling. For an Angels lineup that can use every bit of impact it can get, the question is whether Neto can turn steady production into the kind of all-around approach that matches his talent. [Read more 🡒]