Angels agree to contract extension with GM Perry Minasian, who is on verge of ninth consecutive losing season
The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a contract extension with general manager Perry Minasian, reports Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
The 44-year-old Minasian became the 13th general manager in franchise history in November 2020. He came to the Angels after working as the Atlanta Braves’ player personnel director and then assistant general manager. With the Angels, Minasian signed a four-year contract, and the contract was set to expire after the current season.
The Angels have a 277-336 record during Minasian’s three-plus seasons. That equates to a winning percentage of .452, which ranks 22nd among all Major League Baseball franchises over that span. During that time, Minasian has most notably presided over the peak season and eventual free-agent departure of two-way superstar and two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani. Also, franchise icon Mike Trout has struggled with injuries, including season-ending knee surgery this year, as he tries to delay his decline for as long as possible. Although the Angels have shown no outside interest in trading Trout under Minasian and even before him, the possibility, however remote, remains a constant source of speculation.
The Angels are currently on track for their ninth consecutive losing season, and they haven’t been part of the postseason since 2014. Plus, the farm system and young talent base don’t compare favorably to many other rebuilding teams across the league. However, the Angels, led by owner Arte Moreno, seem to be opting for stability at the top of baseball operations after cycling through multiple GMs in a relatively short period of time prior to Minasian’s appointment. This sort of futile churn has somewhat provided Minasian with a level of job security that doesn’t seem justified given the team’s recent performances. That said, the Angels’ rebuild under Moreno’s leadership may not be achieved easily or quickly, and Minasian will now have more time to implement his full vision for the franchise.
