ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels made a significant change to their baseball operations leadership on Friday, dismissing general manager Perry Minasian after nearly six seasons and naming longtime St. Louis Cardinals executive John Mozeliak as Baseball Operations Consultant and Interim General Manager.
The move signals the start of another front office reset for an organization that has struggled to return to postseason contention despite repeated attempts to reshape its roster. Mozeliak will oversee the club's day-to-day baseball operations while helping develop a long-term organizational strategy and assisting in the search for the Angels' next permanent general manager.
Club President Molly Jolly announced the changes Friday and thanked Minasian for his work with the organization.
“Perry has been a valued leader who worked tirelessly over the last six years to strengthen our baseball operations department,” Jolly said in a statement. “I am grateful for his dedication, insight and many contributions to our organization.”
Minasian was hired as the Angels' 13th general manager in November 2020 after serving as an executive with the Atlanta Braves. He inherited a franchise built around stars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani but was unable to end the Angels' prolonged playoff drought during his tenure. His departure comes amid another disappointing season for a club that has continued to search for sustained success despite significant investments in both the major league roster and player development.
To replace him on an interim basis, the Angels turned to one of baseball's most accomplished executives.
Mozeliak arrives in Anaheim following a remarkable 30-year run with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, including 18 seasons directing baseball operations. During his tenure, the Cardinals established themselves as one of Major League Baseball's model franchises, reaching the postseason 10 times, winning six National League Central titles, capturing two National League pennants and winning the 2011 World Series.
“John is one of the most accomplished and respected baseball executives with a proven track record of building a winning organization,” Jolly said. “For three decades, he constructed one of baseball's most respected organizations, combining strong leadership with a commitment to player development and organizational excellence. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Angels and look forward to benefiting from his experience and perspective as we continue to shape the future of our organization.”
Mozeliak's rise through the Cardinals organization began in 1996 when he joined the scouting department. He advanced through nearly every level of baseball operations, serving as assistant scouting director, scouting director, director of baseball operations, assistant general manager, general manager and ultimately president of baseball operations.
Under his leadership, St. Louis consistently developed homegrown talent while remaining a perennial contender. The Cardinals' player development pipeline produced franchise cornerstones and future Hall of Famers including Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, while the organization became widely regarded as one of baseball's most stable and successful franchises.
A Colorado native, Mozeliak began his major league front office career with the Colorado Rockies in 1993 before joining the Cardinals three years later.
The Angels have scheduled an introductory press conference for Mozeliak and Jolly on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. PDT at Angel Stadium, where the club is expected to discuss the leadership transition and the search for its next permanent general manager.
For an Angels organization seeking to end one of the longest postseason droughts in Major League Baseball, the hiring of Mozeliak represents an effort to bring proven leadership and a championship pedigree to a franchise looking to chart a new direction.