TORONTO — General manager Perry Minasian and the Angels have reached an agreement on a multi-year extension, sources said.
An announcement is expected Thursday afternoon.
Minasian has led the Angels for the past four seasons, taking the job in November 2020 after serving as the Atlanta Braves assistant general manager. Although the team is headed for its fourth consecutive losing season under Minasian, the young core – most of which was brought into the organization by Minasian – has shown signs of improvement this season.
The Angels are 277-336 in Minasian’s four seasons, peaking at 77 victories in 2021. They are currently on pace for 69 victories this season.
Nonetheless, the move represents a sign that owner Arte Moreno is encouraged by the team’s direction, despite the losing.
Moreno quietly signed previous general manager Billy Eppler to a one-year extension just before the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, only to fire him months later after the Angels had a losing record in the 60-game season.
Moreno, however, signaled that his expectations for the 2024 Angels were modest when he cut the payroll after losing Shohei Ohtani. Moreno said in February that he was “not going to spend money just to show that we’re going to spend money unless it’s going to substantially change the team.” He added that he was eager to watch the young core grow.
“I am in it because I believe we can build a team to win,” Moreno said.
They haven’t done it yet, but they do seem to be building something, thanks largely to players Minasian acquired.
The Angels drafted shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel with their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Minasian acquired catcher Logan O’Hoppe from the Philadelphia Phillies in a trade at the 2022 deadline.
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The Angels also drafted closer Ben Joyce in 2022.
Right-hander José Soriano was originally signed by Eppler, and allowed to go in the Rule 5 draft by Minasian in his first months on the job. However, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Soriano back to the Angels after his second Tommy John surgery, and Minasian led the decision to move him to the rotation before this season.
More to come on this story.
