In a surprising shake-up, the Angels have decided to part ways with general manager Perry Minasian after a tenure of over five years. Stepping into the interim GM role for the remainder of the 2026 season is John Mozeliak, a seasoned baseball executive with a wealth of experience.
Mozeliak's introduction to the team was somewhat unconventional, as he hasn't yet met with Angels owner Arte Moreno, nor was Moreno directly involved in his hiring. Instead, it was agent Steve Hilliard, a mutual acquaintance of Mozeliak and Angels president Molly Jolly, who facilitated the connection weeks ago as the team discreetly considered a change in leadership.
Mozeliak's future with the Angels remains open-ended. While his current contract runs through the end of 2026, the organization intends to appoint a new full-time GM before his contract expires and before the anticipated league lockout on December 1. This new GM could either take the helm of the Angels' baseball operations or work under Mozeliak, should he transition to a president of baseball operations role.
Mozeliak himself has expressed that he doesn't envision occupying the GM seat for an extended period, like five years. However, he is open to finding a role that aligns with his expertise and interests. For now, his primary focus is to assist Molly Jolly, who comes from a business background, in overseeing the baseball operations, bridging the gap between the business and sports sides of the organization.
As Mozeliak settles into his duties, he is tasked with both immediate and long-term objectives. In the short term, his responsibilities include navigating the upcoming draft, addressing the trade deadline, and helping identify the next general manager. His ultimate goal is to establish a solid foundation that leads to consistent success for the Angels.
The approach the Angels will take at the trade deadline remains an intriguing question. Historically, Arte Moreno has been averse to rebuilding, preferring to believe that the team is never far from a resurgence.
This philosophy has often resulted in minimal activity at the deadline, even during the team's current stretch of 11 consecutive losing seasons. A notable example of this was the decision not to trade Shohei Ohtani in 2023, allowing him to leave in free agency for only a compensatory draft pick.
Convincing Moreno to alter his approach will be a challenge for Mozeliak, especially given his limited experience with rebuilds. During his time with the Cardinals, the team was a perennial contender, and it wasn't until the 2024-25 offseason that they acknowledged the need for a rebuild. Even then, the Cardinals retained most of their veterans until Chaim Bloom succeeded Mozeliak as the president of baseball operations.
Mozeliak's relationship with Moreno will be crucial moving forward. Establishing a clear line of communication and ensuring that Moreno understands the team's direction is a top priority. Despite not having met Moreno yet, Mozeliak acknowledges Moreno's passion for winning, though he notes that sometimes tough business decisions must be made, even if they're not always popular.
For now, Minasian's departure is the only major change, as Mozeliak plans to retain the rest of the Angels' front office staff, coaching staff, and manager Kurt Suzuki through the end of the 2026 season. While Mozeliak has a shortlist of GM candidates, the hiring process won't commence until at least August, as immediate priorities like the draft and trade deadline take precedence. One potential candidate is Cardinals assistant GM Randy Flores, who has both a professional connection to Mozeliak and local ties as a Southern California native.
In Other News...
Cubs Move May Have Just Strengthened Cardinals Trade Leverage
The Cubs latest move has added another layer to the trade market the Cardinals are watching closely. Chicago sent a prospect in Cole Mathis to the Mets for David Peterson, a rental starter whose season has been uneven, and that kind of deal can matter around the league because it helps define what teams are willing to pay for pitching help in July.
From St. Louis standpoint, Dustin May offers a different kind of selling point. He has been more effective than Peterson, and his prospect pedigree gives him a little extra shine if contenders start chasing rotation depth before the deadline. With the market already showing clubs will part with real value for starting pitching, the Cardinals have reason to believe Mays path to a deal could become more interesting by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Face A Roster Decision That Could Change Everything
Dustin May has quietly become one of the more interesting Cardinals storylines as the club tries to hang in the Wild Card race. The right-hander is working as a starter in St. Louis, and while his season has been uneven, he still gives the rotation a veteran arm at a time when every game matters. At 28, he also fits the kind of pitcher contenders tend to value, which is part of why his name has started to surface in broader deadline chatter.
If the Cardinals begin to fade before the trade deadline, May could quickly shift from rotation piece to movable asset. His contract includes a mutual option for 2027 that is not expected to be exercised, which makes him look a lot like a pitcher approaching free agency rather than someone tied long term to the clubs plans. For a team trying to balance the present against the future, that kind of situation can turn into a major roster decision in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Two Cardinals Arms Are Forcing A Tough Rotation Rethink
June has given the Cardinals a pair of rotation developments worth watching closely. Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy have both steadied themselves on the mound during a season that has demanded it, giving St. Louis a more reliable look in the middle of a difficult year for the staff.
Pallante has been especially sharp, running off a strong month and consistently giving the club chances to win. Leahy has also carved out some momentum with consecutive quality starts, and his recent work has lowered his season ERA to 4.24. With the rotation still in flux, both arms have done enough to force a real conversation about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]