The Angels’ looming ownership change could end up reshaping the front office in a big way, even if interim general manager John Mozeliak stays put.
Mozeliak is expected to remain in the mix after the team is likely sold to new owner Stan Kroenke, but the larger impact may be what happens around him. The biggest issue when Mozeliak stepped in was how much freedom he would actually have, especially with Arte Moreno’s long-standing reputation for getting involved in baseball decisions.
Early indications pointed in the right direction, particularly after Mozeliak said most of his communication had been with team president Molly Jolly rather than Moreno. That alone suggested Moreno may already have been on his way out.
With Moreno now effectively removed from the picture, that concern fades. Kroenke does not appear to be the kind of owner who inserts himself into day-to-day baseball operations the way Moreno did. In Los Angeles with the Rams, he has largely allowed the football operations side to handle its business independently, and that approach has helped make the Rams one of the NFL’s best franchises over the last decade.
That kind of setup should suit a veteran executive like Mozeliak. If he stays in charge, Kroenke will likely be comfortable letting him run the baseball side his own way.
But this isn’t just about the top job. Getting Moreno out of the equation should also make it easier for the Angels to bring in stronger front office talent across the board.
If Mozeliak remains as president of baseball operations, he would probably hire a GM underneath him to help push the Angels toward contention. Under Moreno, some candidates might have been wary of stepping into a situation where a bad stretch could trigger interference or a power struggle. With Kroenke in place, that fear should be reduced.
The Angels also become a more appealing landing spot for younger executives who want to work alongside someone with Mozeliak’s reputation, even if his final years with the St. Louis Cardinals did not go especially well. And if Mozeliak does decide to walk away - unlikely, but still possible if he doesn’t want another full-time role so soon after leaving the Cardinals - the Angels would still be in a better position to attract top candidates than they would have been with Moreno still involved.
In the end, Kroenke’s arrival looks like a clear win for the Angels’ front office. Current and former players are said to be encouraged by the change, and no matter what happens with Mozeliak, the new ownership should make the organization a more attractive place for the kind of executive talent it has badly needed.
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