Category: Sports News

The Los Angeles Angels have announced they are relieving general manager Perry Minasian of his duties and have appointed John Mozeliak as the club’s interim general manager.

Minasian’s departure was announced by a press release from Angels team president, Molly Jolly.

“Perry has been a valued leader who worked tirelessly over the last six years to strengthen our baseball operations department,” said Jolly via a press release by the Angels. “I am grateful for his dedication, insight and many contributions to our organization.”

Minasian, 46, was hired as the club’s general manager in November, 2020. During that time, he was tasked with fixing the Angels.

He inherited Joe Maddon as his manager, Shohei Ohtani, a prime Mike Trout, and one of the worst farm systems in baseball.

Minasian’s tenure as general manager of the Angels oversaw multiple losing seasons and five different managers leading the clubhouse.

The Angels have failed to reach the postseason, a drought that dates back to 2014, and have failed to finish a season above .500, another drought that dates back to 2015.

In 2021, the club finished 77-85; since then, they’ve been steadily declining. In 2023, the team was having its best season under Minasian’s guidance, sitting at 52-49 when the trade deadline came around. The team would go on and win 21 of their next 61 games and would finish the season fourth in the American League West with a 73-89 record.

In 2023, the Angels had the opportunity to trade Ohtani, as multiple teams expressed interest in trading for him, but Angels owner Arte Moreno insisted the club kept him as they were hopeful they could sign him in free agency.

As Minasian was tasked with fixing the Angels’ farm system and turning the team competitive on the fly, he notoriously drafted players who were close to being MLB-ready during the draft, notably Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel [Who made his MLB Debut the same year he was drafted], Sam Bachman, and Christian Moore.

In his first year as general manager, he also had the infamous 2021 MLB draft, where he selected 20 pitchers as the Angels were in dire need of starting pitching. Only Bachman remains with the club from this class.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Mozeliak will join the Angels following a 30-year tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals.

During his time in St. Louis, he spent the last 18 years leading the team’s baseball operations. During his guidance, he helped the team reach the postseason 10 times, winning 6 National League Central division titles, winning the National League Pennant twice, and helping the team win the World Series in 2011.

“John is one of the most accomplished and respected baseball executives with a proven track record of building a winning organization,” Said Jolly in a press release.

“For three decades, he constructed one of baseball’s most respected organizations, combining strong leadership with a commitment to player development and organizational excellence. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Angels and look forward to benefiting from his experience and perspective as we continue to shape the future of our organization.”

Juan Soto said he was surprised to learn about the Mets' firing of manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday morning.

"It sucks,” Soto said when asked about his emotions when he heard the news. “It’s tough to see for a guy like that. I was really close with him; I talked to him a lot.

“Then to see him go, it’s really tough.”

Soto, who signed with the Mets on a 15-year deal after Mendoza’s first season as skipper, said he was informed of the decision by a call from the team’s front office. Soto said he spoke with Mendoza to express his appreciation for what the former manager did for him in welcoming him to the clubhouse “in the best way.”

Despite the team’s poor start to the season, they fell to 34-48 with a 2-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game with interim manager Andy Greenon the bench, Soto said he did not expect the club to make a move at manager.

“Not at all, not at all,” Soto said after Friday’s loss.

“It’s moves every day here. You see bullpen guys going up and down, trades, starters getting moved to the bullpen. You're always expecting those moves,” he continued. “But seeing Mendoza, it's just tough."

Soto said he didn’t think the team’s struggles were a result of players pressing in the hopes of rescuing the floundering season and saving the manager’s job.  

“It’s tough, it’s part of baseball,” Soto said of the team’s struggles despite the talent on the roster. “We just haven’t been coming through in big situations. That’s the way the game goes, you gotta come through in the right moment.”

In Friday’s game, Soto came close to a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, but Phillies center fielder Derek Hill made a tremendous leaping grab to bring the ball back from over the fence. 

“I think it was an unbelievable catch,” Soto said. “When you see the replays, you see how impressive it was. He didn’t even have any time; he just went straight to the wall and jumped. That was incredible.”

Soto finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

Andy Green wasn’t expecting a return to the dugout. 

But following the firing of Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ senior vice president of baseball development felt a “responsibility” to step in on an interim basis — and help ease the “burden” on players to perform amid this nightmarish season. 

“Guys play their best when they play with joy,” said Green, who had been serving as the team’s senior vice president of baseball development. “Guys play their best when they realize this isn’t about strategy, it’s about freedom.” 

Green, who managed the Padres from 2016-19, was completely happy in his front office role in the minors, which president of baseball operations David Stearns said he will return to at the end of this season. The former utility infielder and short-lived Mets player (he suited up for the team four times in 2009) “loved” running the team’s farm system, said he rejected other chances to manage and enjoyed being able to spend more time with his three daughters. 

This, Green said in a captivating press conference, “wasn’t something I was running to.”

“This felt like a responsibility more than an opportunity. Once it was made known to me that there was nothing that was going to change [in terms of his development role], once I learned that, I genuinely believe that given my life experience, I was best positioned to help over the next three months and see what we can get done as a group.” 

There’s no guarantees that Green, who amassed a 274-366 record in San Diego, will inspire a turnaround for this Mets team, who entered Friday’s matchup against the Phillies riding a six-game losing streak and two days removed from a six-error disaster against Chicago. 

Green, who knows Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Nolan McLean from their time in the minors, believes this team can defend better overall. He also seems a good bet to provide a jolt to the Mets’ clubhouse, as he admitted that “there’s been plenty enough people that have not loved my leadership style.” 

“I will show up every day with the humility to know that I only impact so much, and I will show up every day willing to challenge people, and I think that’s how you end up earning respect of people,” he said. “If they choose to see me in a different light, I am not going to be bothered by that.” 

The interim boss, who played three seasons for the Diamondbacks, didn’t reach the playoffs during four seasons in San Diego but evidently took plenty of lessons from his time out West and said he previously picked the brains of managers who had gotten second chances in the role. 

“I’ve had them share stories with me, and I’ve had them share learnings with me, and that doesn’t mean I am on a pathway to be like them,” Green said. “It means there’s freedom to go through struggle, failure, shortcoming, and realize you didn’t die, because once you realize something’s not fatal, you have the capacity to go through it without the stress that transfers to everybody else in the building.” 

For now, Green will hope to change the fortunes of a team in the basement of the NL East and nowhere near a wild-card spot. 

“We can flip that script,” Green said, “and they’re the ones with the pen in their hands to get that all through the story.”

Albert Pujols has confirmed that he is interested in managing the New York Mets.

Pujols was seen reacting to the vacancy of the managerial job with the Mets on MLB Network Friday afternoon and casually said why he would be interested in the job.

“You have an owner that want’s to win, wants to spend, that’s always huge,” Pujols said on MLB Network. “You have the talent on the field, although this year, it hasn’t been great for them because of the injuries. When they built this ballclub through the offseason and through spring training, they would never have thought they were going to have so many injuries like this.”

The vacancy of the Mets manager position became official on Friday morning when they fired Carlos Mendoza, and announced Andy Green will serve as the interim manager for the rest of the season.

Mendoza’s departure comes as the Mets are 13 games below .500 with a 34-47 record and are 15 games out of first in the National League East.

On paper, the Mets have one of the best rosters in baseball, as they have a lineup that features Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Bo Bichette. But injuries have plagued the team this year, as Soto, Luis Robert Jr., and Marcus Semien are currently on the team’s injured list.

With all the injury struggles the team is having, the early indications are that the team will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

With the decision to move on from Mendoza and sitting dead last in the division, New York will likely get a head start on the offseason and be sellers at this year’s MLB Trade Deadline.

Having an opportunity to get a head start, it brings up the question: Is Pujols the right fit to lead the Mets?

The Dominican Republic finished in third place, after losing 2-1 to the USA in the semifinals of the WBC. Which brings the question: Is Pujols the right fit to lead the Mets?

“No matter where it is, I’m gonna bring in my experience, learning from great managers in the past, and try to do the best that I can to try and build a great relationship with the players,” Pujols said. “Because at the end of the day, I believe that communication is huge, with your players, with your superstars.”

When Pujols managed the Dominican Republic during the WBC, he was impressive.

The Dominican Republic had Soto on the team, and they finished in third place, losing 2-1 to the USA in the semifinals.

“I remember when I took the WBC job, people were asking, ‘How are you going to handle so many superstars?’ By talking to them. Expecting them to do their best.” Pujols said. “I don’t have too many rules, just show up, play hard, respect me and my coaching staff, and that’s what they did.”

In hindsight, Derek Hill won the game in the first inning, before most fans had settled into their seats at Citi Field Friday.

After a turbulent morning that included the Mets dismissing manager Carlos Mendoza, Juan Soto looked to turn things around in New York. He turned on a 96-mile-per-hour Zack Wheeler fastball and drove it deep to right center. It was 104 mph off the bat and looked like it was going to be a two-run homer.

Hill, however, had other ideas. The center fielder shaded toward the left side of second base and read it early, turned back and ran. Though he never really looked rushed, he flew back and at the track leapt. His elbow cleared the top of the fence and he brought back that potential home run ball.

Starter Zack Wheeler, who began his career with the Mets and hated their constant drama, watched and just laughed. He went on to make it stand up into a 2-1 win for the Phillies.

We still cannot believe this catch 😮

Did Derek Hill just make the play of year?! https://t.co/RYCBl3d1xOpic.twitter.com/t1xKp3BTDe

— MLB (@MLB) June 26, 2026

The Phillies went crazy. Brandon Marsh who had been running over for backup from right field, yanked off his cap and went over to congratulate Hill. Bryce Harper celebrated at first base and Alec Bohm just put his hands on top of his head and stared out in amazement.

It is already a contender for catch of the year.

Wheeler, meanwhile, went seven innings and gave up just one run and four hits, while striking out seven.

BOSTON — Andy Green might not be in the Mets dugout for long as he takes over for the fired Carlos Mendoza, but one of his Citi Field predecessors is confident the new interim manager could have a positive impact while he’s there. 

Terry Collins was the organization’s minor league field coordinator in 2010, when Green was in his final season as a player. 

Green spent most of that season at Triple-A Buffalo and talked with Collins, who went on to take the Mets manager job the following season. 

“I talked to Green about maybe managing that year,” Collins said by phone on Friday. “He was smart, knowledgeable and loved the game. At the time, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to keep playing.” 

Green, who played 140 games in the majors over parts of four seasons — including four games with the Mets in 2009 — took Collins’ advice and went into coaching in 2011 and got back to the majors as the third base coach for the Diamondbacks in 2015. 

A year later, he was the Padres manager. 

“All of a sudden, he was a major league coach and then manager,” Collins said of Green, who is headed back to the front office following the season. 

“I think he can be a good manager,” Collins said. “He’s an intense guy. Maybe that’s what they need. Carlos did a great job getting them turned around and having that run in 2024. Sometimes a different voice or personality can help.” 

Green, like Collins, was an undersized player who tried to get the most out of his ability. 

“We weren’t blessed with power or size,” Collins said. “Guys like that know you have to play harder than everyone else. Maybe that will help in there.” 

Collins recalled fondly the altercation between Green and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, when the two got into an argument while meeting with umpires during a game in 2017 that resulted in Roberts shoving Green, which earned him a suspension. 

“Andy is intense,” Collins said. “Maybe that’s what they need. Their players weren’t executing. I wish Andy well there and I know Carlos is gonna land on his feet.”

It is Friday. The Orioles have returned home and beat the Nationals, 3-1. Trevor Rogers was good. Coby Mayo was also good! There were some shenanigans, but not enough to keep the Orioles from getting the win.

YOU KNOW WHAT MUST BE DONE

(GIFS!)

SAN DIEGO –– The Dodgers still don’t know when starting catcher Will Smith will return from his neck injury.

Thus, when Shohei Ohtani takes the mound next Wednesday, it will “most likely” be Dalton Rushing behind the plate again, manager Dave Roberts said on Friday.

Typically, managers aren’t asked about battery pairings almost a week away from a pitcher’s next start.

But over the last couple days, the Ohtani-Rushing dynamic has been the leading story around the Dodgers, after the two expressed frustration with one another during a second-inning meltdown in Minnesota this week.

In the wake of that episode –– in which the four-time MVP and second-year backup catcher suffered miscommunication in everything from pitch-calling to ABS challenges to PitchCom mix-up that led to a run-scoring passed ball –– Roberts said there had been “conversations” behind the scenes to ensure “that going forward we’ll all be on the same page.”

“It’s not always going to be synced up, but I think that where it got to the other day, I really don’t see that happening going forward,” Roberts said. “They all care. Everyone cares. Just more of, I got to make sure that we’re all on the same page and they got to do their jobs.”

This week’s Minnesota game was only the third time Rushing has been behind the plate for an Ohtani start this year. It has happened in each of the two-way star’s previous three outings because Smith continues to battle a lingering neck injury.

What was initially believed to be minor neck pain has now sidelined Smith for three weeks.

On Friday, Roberts said Smith is still not doing any baseball activities, but is “feeling better day-by-day.”

Roberts added that it’s unlikely Smith will be back by the start of next week’s homestand, but still downplayed any long-term concern.

“I think it’s concerning in the sense that it’s a lot longer than we’d expected,” Roberts said. “It’s not concerning because we don’t think it’s a long-term situation.”

The Texas Rangers scored five runs while the Toronto Blue Jays scored four runs.

Remember last night when the Rangers scored a bunch of runs early and then gently moseyed to a victory over the Blue Jays despite their lead shrinking to almost nothing late? Well, tonight’s game was pretty much the same deal.

The Rangers scored three runs in the top of the first off of 2025 friend Patrick Corbin as they enjoyed a rare trio of hits with RISP. A couple of innings later, Justin Foscue made it 5-0 with his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot following a Jake Burger walk.

Irritatingly, the Rangers went hitless with RISP in their remaining nine opportunities as they couldn’t quite turn the game into a blowout. The well running dry at the plate would eventually lead to some late-innings heartburn again. Nevertheless, the early damage was already in the books and, luckily for Texas, they had Nathan Eovaldi on the mound and he was shoving.

The second most famous pitcher from Alvin, TX went seven innings and allowed zero runs on five hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. Toronto didn’t have their first hit until the fourth inning and only really threatened Eovaldi in his last couple of frames. The veteran erased a couple of rallies to maintain the five run lead.

The Rangers needed all five of ’em, too. Like last night, despite being staked to a big early lead, the Blue Jays flipped it on in the late innings and eventually put up a four-run frame in the eighth.

Starring down a potentially dubious outcome after leading by five runs early, Texas again turned to Jacob Latz for the save and he came through for the second consecutive one-run win for the Rangers in Toronto.

Player of the Game: Foscue drove in three of the five runs and his dinger was big, and Wyatt Langford continued his torrid June with three more hits and a stolen base while flying around on the bases, but it’s hard to argue against Eovaldi’s evening as he provided Texas with seven shutout frames to keep the mileage off a sputtering bullpen during this brutal stretch.

Up Next: Eyeing a third win in three tries to begin this series, the Rangers don’t yet have a pitcher listed for tomorrow’s game while Toronto will start RHP Dylan Cease.

The Saturday afternoon first pitch from Rogers Centre is scheduled for 2:07 pm CDT and will be back on the Rangers Sports Network.