John Mozeliak’s move into the Angels’ front office has already started to reshape the club, and one of his first decisions carried a familiar Cardinals flavor.
Mozeliak fired Mike Maddux, along with two other coaches, in a shakeup that also elevated Tim Leveque to interim pitching coach. Maddux had been the Cardinals’ pitching coach from 2018 through 2022 before stepping down, and his run in Los Angeles never got much traction. The Angels’ pitchers own a 4.53 ERA and have allowed the most walks in the majors.
According to Mozeliak, Maddux was not making enough use of the technology available to him. STLtoday’s Derrick Goold noted that the explanation sounded a lot like the one Mozeliak used in St. Louis when Maddux declined to return after 2022 and was replaced by Dusty Blake.
“He gave a similar reason in St. Louis for making a change at pitching coach and other pitching positions - after Mike Maddux declined to return to #stlcards. https://t.co/sRF0tQdA2M”
Leveque’s promotion gives Mozeliak a new pitching coach with deep Cardinals roots. Leveque spent 20 years in the Cardinals organization as a minor league pitching coordinator, and in 2025 he worked as a pitching analyst in the team’s scouting department.
Jeff Jones also pointed out Leveque’s long Cardinals history:
“Tim Leveque was the long-time minor league pitching coordinator for the Cardinals under John Mozeliak. https://t.co/y3c0tqB57A”
The hire is a little eyebrow-raising given how the game has evolved, but it also shows Mozeliak is leaning hard on familiar faces as he starts remaking the Angels. Leveque is only the first Cardinals connection to land in Anaheim, and probably not the last.
One name to watch is Randy Flores, the Cardinals’ Director of Scouting. Flores has overseen St.
Louis’ drafts since 2016 and worked his way into one of Mozeliak’s most trusted roles. Under Chaim Bloom, though, the Cardinals’ draft approach has changed, and Bloom could decide to shift those duties to someone else.
Flores has done strong work, especially in later rounds, where the Cardinals have found players like Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Andre Pallante and Quinn Mathews. Mozeliak knows that track record well. Flores also grew up near Los Angeles and attended the University of Southern California, which could make a return home appealing.
Mozeliak may not stop with coaches and executives, either. He could also have his eye on Cardinals players in the minor league system. Whether Bloom is willing to play along is another matter, especially with the Cardinals’ farm system loaded with talent.
That depth makes the Rule 5 draft worth watching for St. Louis fans in December. The Cardinals could lose players if they aren’t added to the 40-man roster this offseason, and the list of eligible names includes 2022 third-round pick Pete Hansen, international free agent Ramon Mendoza and undrafted free agent Noah Mendlinger.
For now, Mozeliak has already made his first Cardinals-to-Angels move. It may not be his last.
In Other News...
Cardinals Fans Are Getting A Busch Stadium Celebration To Remember
The Cardinals are planning a homecoming worth circling well in advance, with Busch Stadium set to host a reunion on Sept. 11, 2026, for the 2006 World Series championship team. More than 30 members of that club are expected back in St. Louis for an event built around a special truck ride and a pregame panel featuring several former players, giving fans a chance to relive one of the signature titles in franchise history.
The timing only adds to the occasion, because the reunion will land alongside the Cardinals Hall of Fame inductions of Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols and Bill Sherdel. For a fan base that still talks about that 2006 group with plenty of pride, it sets up a day at Busch Stadium that blends championship nostalgia with another major nod to the organizations history. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Get A Special Chance To Relive A Beloved Title
Two decades after one of the most cherished seasons in franchise history, the Cardinals are giving fans a chance to revisit 2006 in a big way. On Sept. 11, 2026, Busch Stadium will host a 20-year reunion for the World Series championship club, with more than 30 former players and coaches expected to take part in a pregame motorcade and other events around the ballpark.
The gathering adds another layer to what is already shaping up as a notable day on the Cardinals calendar, with autograph signings and a Hall of Fame induction ceremony also planned for Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Bill Sherdel. For a fan base that still treats that title team as a defining part of the modern era, the reunion should offer a welcome trip back to a season that never really left St. Louis. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans May Have To Wait Longer For Joshua Baezs Debut
Joshua Baez has been making noise at Triple-A Memphis, where the Cardinals top prospect has shown the kind of power that keeps a fan base watching the transaction wire as much as the box score. His rise has naturally sparked debate about when St. Louis will finally bring him into the mix, especially with the club looking for ways to inject more upside into the roster.
For now, the answer appears to be a little longer than some had hoped. Derrick Goold reported that Baez will not be added this weekend, with the club weighing the value of preserving rookie eligibility as it plans the next step. The timing still seems close, and a return to St. Louis later in the month has been floated, but the exact move could hinge on injuries or other roster twists before the Cardinals make it official. [Read more 🡒]