The Los Angeles Angels announced the dismissal of general manager Perry Minassian, appointing John Mozeliak as the interim GM.
This transition was revealed in a statement from Angels president Molly Jolly, who expressed appreciation for Minassian’s leadership over the past six years, highlighting his contributions to enhancing the club’s baseball operations.
“Perry has been an invaluable leader,” Jolly said. “We are grateful for his dedication and insight.”
Minassian, 46, took on the general manager role in November 2020 with the goal of revitalizing the Angels. He faced challenges, including managing a team featuring Joe Maddon as manager and star players Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, while inheriting one of the least impressive farm systems in baseball.
Throughout his tenure, the team struggled with multiple losing seasons under the direction of five different managers. The Angels have not made it to the postseason or recorded a winning season since 2015.
In 2021, the team finished with a record of 77 wins to 85 losses, and since then, their performance has noticeably worsened. In 2023, however, they had a useful start, at 52-49 before faltering late in the season, eventually closing out with a 73-89 record.
There were discussions regarding trading Ohtani in 2023, but owner Arte Moreno decided to keep him, believing they could successfully retain him in free agency.
Minassian aimed to improve the organization’s farm system and sought to make the team more competitive. He was recognized for selecting players likely to make MLB impacts, like Zach Neto and Nolan Chanuel, along with choosing 20 pitchers in the 2021 draft.
Only Bachman stands out as a player from that draft class still with the team.
Mozeliak steps into this role after three decades with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he served as the chief of baseball operations for 18 years, guiding the team to numerous postseason appearances and a World Series title in 2011.
“John is one of baseball’s most accomplished and respected executives,” Jolly noted. “We’re looking forward to his experience and insights as we move forward.”
