Los Angeles Angels Part Ways with GM Perry Minasian
With Perry Minasian finally out of the picture, the Angels have the chance to enter a proper rebuild and fix this organization at long last.
Late on Friday evening reports surfaced that the Los Angeles Angels parted ways with General Manager Perry Minasian. Minasian was originally hired ahead of the 2021 season ending his five-plus year run in which the Angles went 418-534 missing the playoffs each season and finishing last in the AL the past three years.
Although the move should come as no surprise to Angels fans the timing was a bit unique. Reports came out earlier in the week that the Angels would not look to move any of the primary trade chips despite their struggles and lack of a true direction. Roughly a month ahead of the trade deadline the Angels parted way to ensure Minasian would not be part of the process.
No matter who you ask this is the right move for the organization. Since Minasian took over the Angels have operated like no other team in the league and I do not say that in a positive way. Now, the Angels can have a fresh start and enter a proper rebuild which is years overdue.
What Went Wrong
Where should I start… I guess we can look at where the Angels were when Minasian took over. A team with a a pair of superstars in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani that continued to breach the 80-win mark. Pitching was a problem and finding complementary pieces never really seemed to work out. The Trout injuries continued to pile up as well.
The Angels farm system struggled throughout this period often ranking at or near the bottom of the league. Drafts were wonky and development was seen as a hoax. Do you remember Minasian’s first draft? He had 20 rounds to select players and decided the best course of action would be to only take pitchers. Sam Bachman and Chase Silseth, both now relivers, have been the only names to find any production to date.
Each of his following three first-round picks – Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel, and Christian Moore – have all reached the majors already. While Neto has turned out well but Schanuel is a first baseman with no power. His was a confusing selection at the time and his rushed path to the big leagues only raised more questions. A theme that’s haunted the Angels.
Any time a prospect showed a sign of life he would be wearing an Angels jersey within the month. It did not matter where he was in his development rushing him to the big leagues always seemed to be Minasian’s answer. Well, few panned out and now you have stunted development along with a self-induced 40-man roster crunch that will be difficult to maneuver.
How about trades and free agents? Brandon Marsh for Logan O’Hoppe has looked like an utter failure. Giving money to various past their prime veterans and expensive relivers was always a yearly tradition that did not work out in the Angels favor.
The desperation deadline of 2023 where the Angels where the Angels went all in and acquire Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, C.J. Cron, ad Randal Grichuk in an attempt to win in Ohtani’s last season, despite the odds being against them, was certain one to remember.
To an extent I can get behind the aggressive approach that season. Minasian was doing everything he could to pull off the impossible but a few weeks later those players hit the waiver wire only for Ohtani to depart at season’s end. Trading Ohtani could have changed the trajectory of the Angels’ future, but that’s a different dive for a different day.
The moves Minasian did not make have been equally as detrimental to the organization. Holding onto players and ignoring the reality of the situation has cost the team year after year. Jo Adell was the perfect sell-high candidate last season yet here he is with his .681 OPS in an Angels jersey this year.
In the end the Angels were a team with no success or direction. The few prospects they did have were quickly spoiled through rushed development and the unwillingness to move any pieces and hit the reset button only delayed in inevitable.
Now the Angels are on the back nine of Trout’s career and likely headed for a rebuild.
What’s Next?
After the celebration settles fans will quickly turn their attention to who is going to guide them out of this purgatory they have been living in. After Minasian’s dismissal the Angels named long time St. Louis Cardinals executive, John Mozeliak, as their interim GM.
This is an intriguing move that I think fans should be excited about.
You can debate if Mozeliak will make much of an impact over the next few months but what we do know is that he’s going to be different than Minasian. In terms of interim GMs you can do a lot worse than a guy with Mozeliak’s resume.
As the trade deadline approaches the Angels have about a month to set up the next phase of Angels baseball. A true tear-it-down-and-rebuild, which is long overdue, will likely have to wait until a fulltime replacement is in place. But for now, moving a couple of obvious pieces should be step one.
The quickest way to jump start the new era would be to move one of, if not both, of Reid Detmers and José Soriano. Both are pitching well enough to be near the top of the trade market and their years of control would help incentivize a larger and more impactful return. If the team wants to keep one, I get it, but keeping both? I think the farm system is in a place where they can’t afford to pass on the boost a trade would bring back.
Secondary pieces like Adell and Jorge Soler need to be moved no matter the return. If a few other veterans can get healthy ship them out as well. Expiring contract and players who are nearing the end of their control should be on the trade block.
What I don’t think will happen but I’m sure will be inquired upon is moving Trout and Neto. Trout is obviously a legend with a lot of money due and few years of productivity left. Neto is only 25 years old and doesn’t hit free agency until 2030.
Do I think both players should eventually be moved in order to execute a proper rebuild? Yes. Do I think they will let an interim GM make those moves? That’s where I am less confident.
The next month needs to have a heavy focus on the deadline but also find ways to help reorganize the organization and development process. I don’t see a complete revamp from the minors upward but simply allowing 21 year old’s to develop in the minors instead of the majors is a step in the right direction.
The next 12 months of Angels baseball is going to endure a lot of changes. Losing will become even more common. Key players will be on different teams. The jerseys you have had will soon be a memory of a previous era.
And to most Angels fans, that will be welcomed.
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