ANAHEIM — The Los Angeles Angels are undergoing a transformative period as they continue to reshape their front office. Interim general manager John Mozeliak has been actively implementing changes since he took over in late June, marking a significant shift for the franchise.
In just a couple of months, Mozeliak has overseen a pivotal draft where the Angels selected a high school player in the first round for the first time in eight years. Additionally, he managed the franchise's first true fire-sale trade deadline under owner Arte Moreno, alongside the dismissal of pitching coach Mike Maddux and other members of the pitching staff.
On Monday, the Angels furthered their organizational restructuring by promoting Michael Lord and Matt Swanson to the roles of assistant general managers, as reported by Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. This move comes just ahead of the Angels' series opener against the New York Yankees.
“Part of the reason for all of this is to really get an alignment of how we think about our player acquisition,” Mozeliak stated, emphasizing the need for a unified approach within the team’s management.
In addition to the promotions, the Angels made several cuts, including the firing of five area scouts, two crosscheckers, and the non-renewal of special assistant Ray Montgomery’s contract. With these changes, the Angels now have four assistant general managers: Lord, Swanson, Joey Prebynski, and David Haynes.
Swanson, who has been with the Angels for a decade, will oversee professional scouting. His experience includes a previous stint under Mozeliak with the St. Louis Cardinals, which Mozeliak believes will enhance the team's player acquisition strategies. “We promoted Matt Swanson to be the assistant GM and oversee all player acquisitions,” Mozeliak explained. “I really wanted a more vertical approach on how we think about player acquisitions.”
Lord, who has served as the director of research and development for the Angels over the past six seasons, will play a crucial role in integrating analytical insights into the team's decision-making processes. Mozeliak highlighted the importance of this promotion, stating, “The importance of that is really the understanding that how we’re going to be making decisions and what we’re anchoring to.”
While Mozeliak acknowledged that he has not yet conducted a thorough evaluation of how the Angels' research and development department compares to others in the league, he recognizes the need for improvement. He indicated that the current headcount in the department is relatively small, and he is open to expanding it as necessary.
“We have to get a stronger player development system. We have to have a strong player acquisition system,” Mozeliak remarked, outlining his vision for the future of the organization.
Regarding the search for a permanent general manager, Mozeliak noted that the focus has been on enhancing internal operations rather than rushing to find a replacement. He also mentioned that he has not yet contemplated his own future in the organization, emphasizing the immediate goal of strengthening the Angels' infrastructure.
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