The Astros and Athletics have already started reshaping the American League West’s leadership picture, and those moves matter for the Angels as they wait for the franchise sale to become official sometime in December.
Houston officially named Brad Ausmus as its next manager and paired him with newly hired general manager Randy Flores. The Athletics, meanwhile, finished their own front office overhaul by hiring Brewers executive Cam Castro as general manager under new president of baseball operations Taylor Smith, who came over from the Red Sox.
For the Angels, the Houston news does not really change much on the dugout side. Ausmus is a familiar name in Anaheim, but not one the Angels had any interest in bringing back.
He went 72-90 in his lone season managing the club in 2019, and the organization has moved through several managers since then. Houston’s choice makes sense because of his playing background there and his ties to senior advisor Jeff Bagwell, but Anaheim needs something different for its next chapter.
The bigger loss for the Angels is Flores coming off the board. He spent more than a decade climbing through the Cardinals’ scouting and baseball operations ranks, which made him a strong fit for a club that needs help rebuilding its farm system and sharpening its player evaluation.
His background also lined up well with Mozeliak in St. Louis, giving him the kind of developmental experience the Angels have been looking for, along with credibility as a former MLB pitcher and scout.
Even with those names gone, the Angels still appear to be in a strong spot. The franchise is in limbo until the sale closes, but informal conversations are already happening with a broad group of candidates. And with Stan Kroenke expected to take over, the job suddenly looks a lot more attractive than it has in the past.
That matters because the Angels are no longer the team with an owner who might scare off top candidates. Houston owner Jim Crane apparently pushed away his top target, Matt Kleine, by being too involved in baseball decisions. That is not expected to be a problem with Kroenke.
The Angels also have a simple numbers advantage. They are the only MLB team currently looking to make a full front office overhaul, which means the pool of available talent is essentially theirs to sort through.
Kleine remains the most notable name still on the market. Fresh off a World Series title in Milwaukee, the Brewers assistant GM reportedly passed on Houston’s GM opening because he wants a role with full control, such as a president of baseball operations title. If Kroenke is willing to hand him that kind of authority in Anaheim, the 40-year-old could bring Milwaukee’s player development model straight to Orange County.
The Brewers group remains a rich source of candidates, and so does Tampa Bay. Under Erik Neander, the Rays have set the standard for getting the most out of talent and for analytical innovation. That leaves Kroenke free to target Kleine or dip into Tampa Bay’s front office depth, including Will Cousins, Kevin Ibach, and Chanda Lawdermilk.
There is even a wider lane beyond that. With Kroenke’s financial power, the Angels could also pursue Dodgers executives other than Andrew Friedman if the price is right.
The delay is frustrating, but the bigger point is clear: the Angels’ most important move is not a player signing or a managerial hire. It is building the right front office. That is the decision that will shape everything else.
So while the official moves may not happen until December, the Angels still have a chance to land a top-tier group. The biggest additions this winter may be the people in suits, not uniforms.
In Other News...
Angels Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Catching Plans
The Angels kept a familiar face in the mix behind the plate by bringing back Tyler Heineman on a one-year deal, a move that gives the club another piece of stability as it sorts out its catching picture for the upcoming season. It is the kind of low-drama roster decision that can matter more than it looks, especially for a team trying to firm up roles before the offseason gets any more unpredictable.
Los Angeles also brought back pitcher Sammy Peralta on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training after he was outrighted to the minors, adding another arm to the organizational depth chart. With the expected MLB lockout looming, the Angels have been making these kinds of measured decisions now, trying to lock in options where they can and avoid leaving too many loose ends for later. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Face Growing Pressure On Zach Neto Before Crucial Deadline
The Angels have already started their general manager search at the MLB General Manager Meetings, but the bigger front-office question may be whether they can hold onto Zach Neto long enough to make a clear decision. Interim GM John Mozeliak acknowledged that interest in the star shortstop is picking up from multiple teams, which only adds to the pressure on a club that is trying to sort out its direction while the market around it keeps moving.
With the December 1 lockout looming, the Angels are working against a deadline that could shape the rest of their winter. Neto stands out as one of the more valuable shortstops available in trade discussions, especially with other options expected to hit the market this offseason, and that only makes the stakes higher for a team that has to decide whether to listen, hold firm or act before the window closes. [Read more 🡒]
Former Angels Manager Brad Ausmus Is Back In A Dugout
Brad Ausmus is headed back into a major league dugout, this time with Houston, where the Astros have hired the former Angels manager to lead the club. The announcement came from general manager Randy Flores, adding another familiar name to a franchise that knows Ausmus well from his playing days and his long run as a big league skipper.
For Angels fans, it is another reminder of how much managerial turnover has shaped the organization in recent years. Ausmus has already managed both Detroit and Los Angeles, and his most recent stop was as the bench coach for the Yankees, so this return gives Houston a veteran voice with a wide view of the game and leaves the Angels watching a former manager land back in a prominent chair. [Read more 🡒]