Mozeliak outlines how Angels’ new ownership will shape the GM search, and why big moves may wait

At the annual MLB General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas, Angels interim general manager John Mozeliak said the franchise’s new ownership group has started contacting potential General Manager candidates for the team’s next front-office leadership search.

Mozeliak, speaking Tuesday at the Aria Resort and Casino, said the candidate list is intentionally broad because the group led by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is less familiar with baseball operations and wants to collect as much information as possible before narrowing the search.

He indicated he expects his involvement to increase after the process is reduced to a smaller set of candidates, describing the initial stage as information-gathering rather than immediate decision-making.

On timing, Mozeliak said the Angels are not expected to hire a new GM or president of baseball operations until the sale becomes official, noting that MLB owners are not scheduled to vote on the transaction yet and that the approval timeline was initially aimed for early 2027.

Mozeliak also framed the near-term priorities for the current group: helping steady the day-to-day baseball operation while focusing at the GM Meetings on intel related to the free-agent market and potential trade targets to better support the next leadership team.

He said offseason roster activity could be possible in the short term but would require clearance from Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, adding that large moves are unlikely until everything is official.

When asked what the ownership group might want in a GM, Mozeliak said it is too early to know for sure, but he pointed to KSE’s historical pattern of hiring younger leadership that can serve long-term, citing examples of executives and coaches who went on to win championships in other leagues.