The Los Angeles Angels have declined the 2027 club option for manager Kurt Suzuki following a franchise-worst 62-100 season. This leadership shakeup arrives as the team prepares for a change in ownership.
The 62-100 colllapse and Kurt Suzuki's exit
The Los Angeles Angels finished the 2026 regular season with a .383 winning percentage, the lowest mark in the organization's 66-year history. According to the report, this 62-100 record represents a ten-game decline from the previous year's performance under Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery. Despite the historic failure, baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak stated that the record was not a true reflection of Kurt Suzuki's managerial abilities.
Kurt Suzuki, a former catcher who played for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and 2022, was hired as manager exactly one year ago by former general manager Perry Minasian. While his tenure ended in a record-breaking losing season, Mozeliak noted that Suzuki earned significant respect within the clubhouse. To keep his expertise in-house, the Los Angeles Angels have offered Suzuki a position as a special assistant.
Stan Kroenke's Q1 2027 takeover
The decision to move on from Kurt Suzuki was made in coordination with Kroenke Sports and Entertainment. As reported, Stan Kroenke agreed on September 1 to purchase a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno. Kroenke is expected to officially assume control in the first quarter of 2027, ending years of uncertainty regarding the team's ownership.
This ownership transition has complicated the front office structure. John Mozeliak, the former longtime general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, is currently serving as the interim general manager for the Los Angeles Angels. Mozeliak stepped in after Arte Moreno fired Perry Minasian in June, but his own permanent status with the franchise remains undecided as the transition to Stan Kroenke progresses.
Seven managers since Mike Scioscia's 2018 departure
The departure of Kurt Suzuki means the Los Angeles Angels will have employed seven different managers in just nine seasons. This instability began after the team parted ways with Mike Scioscia in 2018, who had previously led the franchise for 19 years. The lack of continuity has mirrored a broader collapse on the field; the Los Angeles Angels have now endured 11 consecutive losing seasons.
The drought extends beyond the regular season record, as the Los Angeles Angels have not reached the postseason since 2014. Even more stark is the fact that the team has not won a single playoff game since 2009 . This prolonged slump is the longest active non-playoff streak in the major leagues, creating a culture of losing that the new ownership under Stan Kroenke will be tasked with erasing.
A 4.14 ERA and the Albert Pujols candidacy
Despite the overall record, the Los Angeles Angels saw a significant improvement in their starting rotation. The starters' ERA dropped to 4.14 this season—ranking 12th in the majors—compared to a 4.91 ERA in 2025 , when they ranked 28th. This progress occurred even as the team traded away one starter before the deadline.
The search for a new manager may lead back to a familiar face in Albert Pujols. Having spent parts of 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and recently managing the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Pujols is expected to be a top candidate. This potential hire follows a season of internal friction, including the August firing of pitching coach Mike Maddux and two other staffers who Mozeliak claimed were not utilizing available analytics and technology.
Will Kurt Suzuki accept the special assistant role?
One primary uncertainty remaiins regarding whether Kurt Suzuki will actually accept the offer to remain with the Los Angeles Angels as a special assistant. it is unclear if a manager would choose to stay with an organization that declined his contract option immediately following a record-setting loss season.
Additionally, the report leaves open the question of who will fill the vacancies on the coaching staff. While Mozeliak mentioned that some staff members were offered roles within the organization, the full scope of the upcoming overhaul under Stan Kroenke's impending ownership remains unverified.
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