ANAHEIM -- Kurt Suzuki will not be returning as Angels manager in 2027 but was offered a position to remain in the organization as a special assistant, the club announced on Wednesday.
Additionally, interim general manager John Mozeliak will not be the club’s full-time GM in 2027. He said the process for finding a new general manager is in the early stages and no one has been interviewed just yet. He added that he plans to honor his contract, which runs through December, and will step aside once the new leadership is in place.
The Angels declined Suzuki’s option after he served as manager for one year and the club lost 100 games for the first time in franchise history. Mozeliak said after the season that he wanted to keep Suzuki on as manager, but it would be up to the new ownership group. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is set to officially purchase the club in early 2027. Mozeliak said Wednesday that the new GM will be hired before they hire a manager.
“As we look toward 2027 and beyond, I have had thoughtful conversations internally and with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment’s leadership about the future of Angels Baseball and the direction of our organization,” said Mozeliak in a statement. “Those conversations have shaped the decision to seek a new manager and coaching staff for the 2027 season. Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I’ve seen firsthand how much he cares about our players. I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his abilities as a manager.
“I’m pleased we were able to offer Kurt a role to stay on as a special assistant, where his knowledge of our players and his perspective would continue to be valuable to the organization. I would also like to thank the entire coaching staff for their professionalism and hard work throughout a very difficult season. We value their expertise and have offered some members of the staff positions within the organization.”
The Angels will also be looking for a new coaching staff, as the only coaches still listed by the club are staff assistant Tim Buss, bullpen catcher Jason Brown and batting practice pitcher Mike Ashman.
Suzuki, 43, previously served as a special assistant with the organization from 2023-25 before taking over as manager on a one-year deal with an option. He also played with the Angels from 2021-22 to end his 16-year career as a catcher. He made history by becoming the first Hawaiian-born MLB manager.
He was well-liked by players and the front office but ultimately didn’t win enough in his first season as manager. The Angels also pitched better down the stretch after they fired pitching coaches Mike Maddux and Dom Chiti and replaced them with Tim Leveque and Michael Wuertz. But the Angels will be looking to replace nearly their entire staff.
It’s becoming more clear that the new ownership group wants a clean slate heading into the 2027 season, with new leadership in place at both the GM and managerial levels.
There was a thought the Angels could keep Suzuki and Mozeliak for continuity reasons and then evaluate things further after the ‘27 season. But now the Angels will be looking for their sixth full-time manager since 2019 and a replacement for Mozeliak and former GM Perry Minasian, who was dismissed in late June.
Mozeliak was brought in by new club president Molly Jolly after his lengthy and impressive stint with the Cardinals, including helping Chaim Bloom transition into his role as president of baseball operations for St. Louis. Now Mozeliak will help lead the search for the new GM, while Jolly’s status could also be uncertain with the change in ownership.