The Los Angeles Angels face administrative hurdles heading into the MLB offseason following owner Arte Moreno’s decision to sell the franchise to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment last summer. Despite transitioning to ownership with a history of significant financial investment, the organization remains restricted in its ability to complete front-office hires and free-agent signings while awaiting league approval.
Approval Timeline Delays Front-Office Plans
Speaking on “Foul Territory,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic explained that league approval for the ownership change is not anticipated until at least December. This timeline limits the franchise’s ability to act quickly, even regarding key administrative positions.
When announcing the sale, the Angels stated that full approval from Major League Baseball might not occur until the end of the first quarter of 2027. The team’s immediate priority for November is to appoint a new president of baseball operations, who will then be tasked with hiring a general manager and a manager.
Rosenthal noted that the delayed timeline could complicate efforts to pursue elite free agents such as Tarik Skubal. Pointing to a potential December 1 lockout, Rosenthal raised questions about whether Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, would be willing to wait for the Angels’ ownership situation to clarify if standard offers are available elsewhere sooner.
Leadership Overhaul Following Historic Season
The organizational transition follows a difficult period on the field. On Oct. 21, the Angels relieved Kurt Suzuki of his duties as manager after finishing the franchise’s first 100-loss season.
Following Suzuki’s departure, interim manager John Mozeliak confirmed he will not serve as the permanent general manager. Mozeliak originally joined the organization as a baseball operations consultant before stepping into the interim role after team president Molly Jolly fired Perry Minasian. Mozeliak addressed his future with the team in comments reported by Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register.
“I think it’s best that I just honor the role I signed up for and then ultimately turn that over to people that are going to be committed to this for the long term,” Mozeliak said to Fletcher.
