5 best GM candidates to save Angels after Perry Minasian firing

The Los Angeles Angels have spent the better part of a decade stuck in baseball’s most frustrating middle ground: too talented to bottom out, too flawed to seriously contend. If owner Arte Moreno decides that moving on from Perry Minasian is the necessary reset, the next hire cannot be another short-term patch. This time, the Angels need a baseball architect.

That means finding an executive who can do more than win a press conference.

The next general manager must rebuild the Angels’ player-development pipeline, modernize the club’s decision-making, and create a roster strategy that does not depend on chasing quick fixes every winter. With that in mind, here are five of the best candidates who could help steer the franchise back toward relevance.

What the Angels need

The Angels’ next baseball leader has to solve several problems at once. The major league roster needs better depth, the farm system still needs impact talent, and the organization has to do a better job turning tools into productive big leaguers. That requires a GM with a strong scouting background, a modern analytics mindset, or ideally both.

Just as important, the Angels need someone willing to challenge the organization’s old habits. For too long, this club has operated like a team trying to skip steps. The next hire should be someone prepared to build sustainable success rather than chase an 82-win illusion.

Best candidates

Kim Ng

Ng would be one of the most credible and polished hires the Angels could make. The former Miami Marlins GM brings experience, structure, and a reputation for calm, disciplined roster-building. She helped guide Miami into postseason relevance despite payroll limitations, and her front-office résumé spans decades with the Yankees, Dodgers, and MLB.

For the Angels, Ng would offer something the franchise badly needs: organizational stability. She understands both scouting and front-office process, and she would immediately bring seriousness to a club that often feels reactive.

Thad Levine

Levine has long been viewed as one of baseball’s sharpest executive minds. Best known for his work with the Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins, he blends traditional evaluation with modern roster construction. He also has experience helping build competitive teams without relying solely on star power.

That profile fits the Angels perfectly. Levine could help reshape the club’s baseball operations department while also improving the margins of the roster, an area where the Angels have consistently lagged behind smarter organizations.

Billy Owens

Owens has been one of the most respected assistant GM candidates in the sport for years. After spending significant time with the Athletics and other analytically progressive organizations, he has built a reputation as a thoughtful evaluator with strong leadership skills.

For the Angels, Owens would represent a forward-looking hire. He may not carry the same name recognition as some others, but he could bring fresh ideas to an organization that has too often felt behind the curve in player development and long-term planning.

Jason McLeod

McLeod’s résumé should make Angels fans pay attention. He was a key figure in the Chicago Cubs’ talent pipeline during their rise and has remained highly respected for his work in scouting and player development. If the Angels are serious about fixing the foundation, McLeod is the type of executive who makes sense.

His biggest appeal is simple: he knows how to build talent from the ground up. For a franchise that has struggled to consistently produce homegrown contributors, that matters more than ever.

Amiel Sawdaye

Sawdaye has quietly become one of the more intriguing executives in baseball. With roots in scouting and experience in progressive front offices, he offers a blend of old-school evaluation and modern infrastructure. He has helped organizations think more creatively about how to identify and maximize talent.

The Angels need exactly that kind of perspective. Sawdaye would not be the splashiest pick, but he could be one of the smartest, especially for a team that needs better decision-making at every level.

Best fit

If the Angels want the safest and most proven choice, Kim Ng stands out. She has already run a baseball operations department, handled pressure, and shown that she can bring coherence to a messy situation. If they want a more developmental, long-view hire, Jason McLeod may be the most attractive fit.

Still, the larger point is this: the Angels cannot afford another cosmetic change. Replacing Perry Minasian only matters if the next GM has the authority and vision to overhaul how this franchise operates. Until that happens, the Angels will remain what they have been for too long, a team with recognizable names, but no real direction.

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