The overhaul of the Los Angeles Angels organization continues as they have declined the club option on manager Kurt Suzuki. They are the third team that will be looking for a manager, along with division rivals Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners. It was a rough first season at the helm for Suzuki. The Angels went 62-100, which is the first 100-loss season in franchise history. Their .383 win percentage was also the worst in franchise history. Suzuki was offered a special assistant role but declined it.
Although we rarely see a manager fired after one season, many expected this to happen. When he was hired last offseason, it was a one-year deal with a club option for 2027. This was very unusual, as most managers receive a three-year deal. It felt like Suzuki was a fill-in for the 2026 season, then they would choose the manager they really wanted this offseason. Plus, with the roster he was given, he had no chance of succeeding. This move is more about the direction of the Angels, rather than what Suzuki can do as a manager.
Kurt Suzuki Dismissal is More About the Angels than Him
The Angels are going through one of their biggest organizational shifts in years. After owning the team for nearly 23 years, Arte Moreno decided to sell the club to Stan Kroenke. This was the best thing to happen to the Angels franchise in years, as Moreno was one of the worst owners in baseball. Since taking over in 2003, the Angels have been marred by mismanagement and scandals. Moreno also meddled a lot in baseball operations, making decisions that set the organization back years.
Kroenke and the new ownership group will have to make a ton of changes to get the Angels back on track. In both the front office and business side, as well as the players on the field. We saw the Halos take steps towards fielding a better team this season. For the first time in what feels like forever, the Angels were sellers at the deadline. They traded off guys like Jose Soriano and Jo Adell for minor league prospects. Through this, they were able to get several solid young players, including Arjun Nimmala, the 34th overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
With the Angels embracing the future and trying to guide the organization in a new direction, it does not make sense to hang on to someone the old regime hired. It creates this lame duck situation that has hurt other teams. The new regime should lead its own search for a manager and hire someone they believe will help implement its plan. Someone who can be a leader for the young players they call up and help them make the adjustment to the big leagues.
While Suzuki did not get a real shot to manage, the Angels made the right decision to let him go. This will allow the Angels to fully turn the page on the Moreno era and help usher in a brighter future.
