Arte Moreno’s silence this season has become its own kind of statement, and nowhere did it land harder than at the press conference introducing John Mozeliak as the Angels’ new head of baseball operations.
Moreno, who has long been a hands-on presence around the club, wasn’t there. He didn’t issue a statement about the hire, either. For an owner with that reputation, the absence stood out.
Even more striking was Mozeliak’s admission that he still had not spoken with Moreno before the announcement. The initial contact came from new team president Molly Jolly, who handled the hiring process.
"After speaking with Molly (Jolly), their team president, over the past few weeks, the more we discussed this opportunity and the challenges that lie ahead, I just found it very intriguing, compelling and interesting." - John Mozeliak
Mozeliak later said he still had not talked with Moreno at that point, though the two have since spoken several times.
That setup is a major shift for the Angels. Jerry Dipoto, Billy Eppler, and Perry Minasian all met with Moreno during their hiring processes, and Moreno was widely viewed as the final decision-maker. This time, Jolly appears to have had the authority to make the call.
Mozeliak brings a résumé that gives him leverage from day one. He has built a World Series winner and multiple October teams, and he was already retired before taking this job. If the arrangement doesn’t suit him, he can leave when the year ends.
He made that clear with his comments about control and change.
"I think I have that authority, and I think he understands that he can embrace change, because that is what is going to be required." - John Mozeliak
Before he accepted the job, Mozeliak laid out a 100-day plan for the organization with Jolly. The plan begins with him officially taking over and then maps out the search for a permanent general manager and a new front office staff.
That timeline puts this weekend’s draft and the trade deadline early in the process, which means Mozeliak is working with Perry Minasian’s current staff for now. Big changes won’t come immediately.
October is where the real overhaul is expected to begin. Mozeliak will lead the hunt for a permanent GM and could target one of three candidates he helped develop in St.
Louis. He also plans to fill out the organization with minor league coordinators, national scouts, and a coaching staff.
If the Angels give Mozeliak the people he wants and the support structure he believes is necessary, he could remain with the club as an advisor. If not, and Moreno goes back to choosing his own people while limiting scouting and development budgets, Mozeliak could be gone by early 2027.
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Reyes opened the season on a minor league deal with the Padres and was released last week after a strong run at Triple-A El Paso, where he forced the issue with his bat. For the Angels, the appeal is obvious: if injuries pile up or the roster gets reshuffled by trades, he is the sort of depth piece who could be in the conversation for a call-up before long. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Draft Just Took A Turn Fans Did Not Expect
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What makes the setup even more interesting is the possibility of a broader talent pool. Mozeliak has signaled that high school players will not be off limits, which could mark a meaningful shift for a club that has leaned more heavily toward college talent in recent years. The Angels also have multiple picks to work with, and the bigger question is whether they use that draft capital to better balance a farm system that has tilted more toward pitching than position players. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Fans Have Seen This Crushing Collapse Far Too Many Times
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The comeback came in the seventh, when the Angels put together a rally to tie it and briefly made the finale feel winnable. Even with that surge, the margin for error never disappeared, and the game ended the way so many frustrating losses do for this club, with the Angels unable to protect the tie and left to wonder how a late push still turned into a defeat. [Read more 🡒]