This Is It, Anaheim: Angels Face Pivotal 2026
The Los Angeles Angels are in a very tough spot now more than ever. The year 2026 will mark more than a decade since the team last finished with a win percentage above .500. The Angels' offseason began with the hiring of Kurt Suzuki as their manager on a one-year deal, a rarity in professional sports. General manager Perry Minasian enters the final year of his contract at the same time. Owner Arte Moreno’s lack of support for the team’s talent has added instability to the franchise’s direction from the top down, and with a collective bargaining agreement set to expire this time next year, the pressure on the organization has never been higher.
The Angels have spent the last decade searching for that missing stability. Since their previous postseason appearance in 2014, the franchise has cycled through executives, managers, coaches, and players, relying on short-term fixes that have failed to deliver. What was once home to two of the league’s biggest stars, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, became a team defined by individual excellence rather than collective success. Ohtani’s departure to the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025, has only highlighted what the Angels have been missing.
The Angels’ recent trade to acquire Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward is the latest attempt to address a declining starting rotation. Rodriguez provides the Halos with tremendous upside, although he carries some risk after missing starts last season due to injuries. Rumors have recently surfaced that the Angels and Anthony Rendon are working on a contract buyout to free up a roster spot, along with a possible deferral-style pay structure to give the team more flexibility with spending this offseason. There is still significant work to be done to address the team's needs, although there are at least some signs that the club is ready to act.
Suzuki’s hiring underscores how high the stakes are in 2026. He will now be leading a team that has several growing stars such as Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel, and Jo Adell, along with a stream of talent in the minors. Suzuki retired in 2022 as a player with the Angels and has already built relationships with players in the clubhouse. He also brings postseason experience as a world champion with the 2019 Washington Nationals. Minasian values Suzuki’s baseball mind and the expertise he brings from the catching position, which will help Logan O’Hoppe improve defensively behind the plate. Managing a new coaching staff and integrating new players will test him. The one-year deal suggests the Angels either do not have much faith in Suzuki to run a successful team or are using it as a stopgap measure before committing to a longer-term manager.
Ownership and external pressures continue to hang over the Angels. Moreno’s final say on personnel decisions has kept the team from fielding a competitive roster or even preparing for a potential rebuild. The expiring CBA might explain why Moreno is not extending contracts. Its outcome could influence a possible sale or lead to a larger investment by Moreno into the club. The year 2026 brings too much uncertainty for the Angels to avoid making win-now moves.
All of these factors combine to make 2026 a pivotal season. It offers the team a chance to correct past mistakes or watch the organization stumble yet again. Fans expect success, although in Anaheim they have seen little more than disappointment. Hiring a strong baseball mind and adding new faces are positive steps forward, although they will mean nothing unless they translate into more wins for the Halos.
