Kurt Suzuki one-and-done with Angels after first 100-loss season as Moreno era nears end
The Los Angeles Angels’ new ownership era will bring another familiar change: a new manager in the dugout.
Only the Colorado Rockies finished the 2026 regular season with more losses than the Angels. Los Angeles’ 100 defeats ultimately ended Kurt Suzuki’s one-season tenure, with the team declining its 2027 option on his contract.
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Baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak announced the decision in a statement Wednesday. “Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I’ve seen firsthand how much he cares about our players,” Mozeliak said. “I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his true abilities as a manager.”
Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki looks on before the game against the Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 21, 2026, in Anaheim, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
STAN KROENKE’S RECORD-SETTING LA ANGELS PURCHASE SHOULD MAKE LONGTERM MLB LOCKOUT LESS LIKELY
Suzuki’s time with the Angels may not be over, as the team has offered him an opportunity to remain with the organization as a special assistant.
Mozeliak said he made the decision in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which agreed Sept. 1 to purchase a controlling interest in the Angels from Arte Moreno.
Arsenal co-chairman Stan Kroenke looks on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park in London, England, on May 24, 2026. (Getty Images For Premier League)
The sale is not expected to close until next year, but the group led by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is already making significant changes to the beleaguered franchise.
The Angels ended the season at 62-100 under Suzuki, which marked the first 100-loss season in franchise history. Suzuki ended his 16-year major league playing career as a catcher for the Halos in 2021-22. Suzuki had never been a manager at any level before he was hired exactly one year ago by general manager Perry Minasian.
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Suzuki had previously worked as Minasian’s special assistant for the previous three seasons.
Minasian was fired by Moreno last June, and longtime St. Louis Cardinals general manager Mozeliak stepped in on a temporary basis to run the front office while leading the search for a permanent GM to replace him. However, that transition plan has been thrown into flux by Moreno’s decision to sell
Mozeliak’s current contract ends in December, with the possibility of an MLB work stoppage looming.
The Los Angeles Angels announced at a press conference in Anaheim on Saturday, June 27, 2026, that they hired John Mozeliak as interim general manager after firing General Manager Perry Minasian. (Mindy Schauer/MediaNewsGroup/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Angels pitching coach Mike Maddux and two staffers were let go in August after Mozeliak determined the team was not fully leveraging the technology and analytics available to its pitchers.
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Suzuki’s replacement will be the seventh manager to lead the Angels in nine seasons since it parted with Mike Scioscia after the 2018 season. The Angels have had 11 consecutive losing seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons, both the longest active skids in the major leagues.
Two other MLB teams, the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros, are also searching for new managers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
