The Los Angeles Angels keep leaning into the reset, and the latest move only drives that point home.
A week after the trade deadline, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday morning that the club fired pitching coach Greg Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. It’s the newest turn in a month-plus run of upheaval that has touched both the roster and the staff.
That stretch already included a major deadline sell-off. The Angels moved catcher Logan O'Hoppe, right-handers José Soriano, Kirby Yates, Ryan Zeferjahn and Chase Silseth, left-hander Brent Suter and outfielder Jo Adell. In exchange, Los Angeles added a haul of minor leaguers, a clear bet on building out the farm system and giving the organization more pieces that could reach the majors in the years ahead.
The impact showed up quickly in the prospect rankings. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter had the Angels sitting No. 29 before the deadline, near the bottom of the league.
After the deals, they jumped to No. 18.
The shakeup has gone beyond the players, too. All of the transactions were signed off by interim general manager John Mozeliak, who stepped in after Perry Minasian was fired at the end of June. Since then, Arte Moreno has let Mozeliak carry out the rebuild vision, even though the owner has not named him the permanent GM yet.
For now, the Angels have made it plain they’re not half-stepping through this process. Between the front-office change, the deadline trades and the coaching staff purge, it’s been one of the biggest organizational overhauls the league has seen.
Not every name that came up in deadline speculation ended up moving. Shortstop Zach Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers will stay in Anaheim for the time being, despite being widely expected to go.
In Other News...
Angels Manager Search Now Puts John Mozeliak Under Real Pressure
The Angels managerial search is quickly becoming the first real test of John Mozeliaks interim run, with Kurt Suzuki expected to be moved out after the clubs recent shakeup on the coaching staff. With pitching coaches already shown the door, the next step is obvious: find a manager who fits the direction Mozeliak wants to take and can steady a dugout that has already been jolted by change.
The candidate pool gives this opening a very different feel than a routine offseason hire, because several familiar names are already being discussed around the job. Albert Pujols stands out as the most natural fit given his connection to the organization, while Torii Hunter, Alex Cora and Ryan Flaherty are also in the mix as the Angels sort through who can match Mozeliaks vision and handle the pressure that comes with the post. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Fans Suddenly Have 3 New Reasons To Pay Attention
A bill aimed at restoring Anaheims name to the Angels has moved through the California legislature, giving the old territorial debate fresh life around the club. Anaheim Assemblyman Avelino Valencias Home Run for Anaheim Act would not force an immediate rename, but it could shape future lease talks for Angel Stadium and keep the possibility of the Anaheim Angels moniker hanging over the organization if Governor Gavin Newsom signs it.
There is more for Angels fans to track beyond the naming conversation, too. The club added Michael Fulmer and Hagen Danner on minor league contracts, and Kyren Paris is continuing to stand out at Triple-A Salt Lake, giving the system a few new points of interest as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]