Angels extend GM Minasian through 2026 season

TORONTO -- Perry Minasian gets to keep building.

The Angels showed their trust in Minasian’s vision ahead of Thursday’s 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays, agreeing on a contract extension that will keep him as the club’s general manager through the 2026 season.

This is a move of continuity, one more bet placed on a future that at times has seemed so distant, but which has become more clear in recent months. Minasian, who originally signed a four-year contract set to expire at the end of this season, is still the Angels’ chosen architect.

“Over the last four years, Perry and his baseball operations staff have begun to lay the foundation for a bright future of Angels baseball,” owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “We have been impressed by the steps Perry has taken to infuse our Major League team with young and exciting talent while also revamping our player-development process.

“We believe this extension will allow him to continue the vision of building sustainable success throughout the Angels’ organization and deliver a championship for our fans.”

Returning to winning baseball is a hurdle Minasian has yet to clear in his current position, as the Angels have posted a sub-.500 record in each of his four seasons as GM. The club hasn’t made the postseason since 2014 -- tied with the Tigers for the longest drought in the Majors.

The Angels looked closer than ever to breaking that skid last year, when they announced they were going “all in,” taking Shohei Ohtani off the trade market and adding at the Trade Deadline even as things unraveled in the AL West. They finished the season with a 73-89 record -- fourth place in the division -- and Ohtani left for the Dodgers in free agency.

From that, a new blueprint was born. Without Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon for most of 2024, the Angels turned to their youngsters and brought in a new manager in Ron Washington -- someone with whom Minasian was well acquainted from three overlapping years in the Braves’ organization.

“I think it's the best thing that's happened to the Los Angeles Angels,” Washington said from the visitors’ dugout at Rogers Centre. “This guy is a tireless worker. He loves the organization, he loves his players, he loves doing what he does. It couldn't happen to a better guy, and I think he's going to be the guy that leads the Angels back to what they're used to having throughout time.”

Minasian was in Toronto for the start of the Angels’ four-game set, but his only comments on the extension came via a statement.

“I am incredibly thankful to Arte and Carole Moreno for their continued trust and support,” Minasian said. “I would also like to thank John Carpino for the tremendous working relationship we have developed over the last four years and I look forward to continuing our plans of bringing the Angels back to being a consistent championship contender.”

The direction is clear from here.

• Angels GM happy with Deadline acquisitions as Halos keep key players

After dealing from their prospect pool at the Deadline last year, the Angels added a handful of promising Minor Leaguers, including Samuel Aldegheri, George Klassen and Matthew Lugo, by trading away closer Carlos Estévez and reliever Luis García this season.

At the Major League level, youngsters like Logan O’Hoppe (acquired from the Phillies for Brandon Marsh in 2022) and Ben Joyce, Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto (MLB Draft picks during Minasian’s tenure with the Angels) continued to take significant steps forward.

This young clubhouse is also eager to get to the winning part.

“It helps that we're all getting our first full [big league] year under our belt, myself included,” said O’Hoppe. “I never want to say we're gonna change things next year, because I want to change it now and do it today -- and we're doing that. We're putting things in motion to set us up better for next year, but I think it's gonna be even better now that we all have this experience under our belt.”

What is it that allows the Angels’ budding core to trust Minasian and his plan?

“He’ll always tell you the truth,” said O’Hoppe. “He's not going to hold back. He’s always one to compete and put his best foot forward. Obviously, we're trying to build top to bottom, so it’s good to have that.”

It starts with getting the hard part out of the way. The Angels are on pace for another tough season, sporting a .422 win percentage that would be their lowest since 1994 (.409) if the season ended today.

But the internal sentiment remains positive. There’s a lot left to build.

“Once these young kids get through this year, then they will know what it's about to go through the dog days,” said Washington. “It's not just going out there and because you’ve got talent, you can win. Winning is acquired, just like anything else you learn in this game.”