Big A Companion

Angels Organization · Baseball University

Who Actually Runs a Baseball Team?

From ownership to the dugout—and every department connecting them.

When a team wins, the manager and general manager receive much of the credit. When it loses, they receive much of the blame. But a modern baseball organization is not run by one person. It is a network of executives, evaluators, coaches, analysts, medical professionals, development specialists, and business staff making different kinds of decisions.

The exact titles and reporting lines vary by club. There is no universal MLB organization chart that every franchise must copy. The map below explains the common functions, then uses the Angels’ current transition as a real-world example.

The organization at a glance

This is a functional map, not a claim about the Angels’ confidential reporting lines.

1. Ownership: direction, resources, and accountability

Ownership sits at the top of the enterprise. Owners select senior leadership, approve budgets and major investments, and determine the organization’s tolerance for risk and change. They can influence everything from payroll and facilities to research, staffing, technology, and the fan experience.

That does not mean an owner personally decides every trade or lineup. A healthy organization defines authority, hires qualified leaders, supplies resources, and holds those leaders accountable.

Current Angels example: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment has agreed to acquire a controlling interest from the Moreno family. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, but it remains subject to closing conditions and MLB approval. Announced future ownership is not the same thing as a completed transfer.

2. The club president: running the larger enterprise

The club president commonly oversees the organization beyond baseball decisions. Depending on the team, that can include finance, ticketing, partnerships, communications, broadcasting, community relations, legal work, human resources, facilities, and the stadium experience.

The boundary between the club president and the top baseball executive is not identical everywhere. Public titles tell us who holds a role, but they do not always disclose every approval threshold or internal conversation.

Current Angels example: Molly Jolly is the club president and announced the June 2026 change in baseball-operations leadership.

3. Baseball operations leadership: building the team-building system

The top baseball executive is responsible for far more than negotiating trades. Baseball operations must coordinate:

• Major League and 40-man roster planning
• Free-agent signings, trades, waivers, and contract decisions
• Amateur, professional, and international scouting
• The Draft and international player acquisition
• Research, analytics, technology, and decision support
• Minor League player development
• Medical, performance, rehabilitation, and return-to-play information
• MLB rules, roster compliance, budgeting, and long-term planning

Final authority may sit with one executive, but recommendations are produced collaboratively. A trade can involve scouts, analysts, coaches, medical personnel, contract specialists, player-development staff, and ownership-level financial approval.

Current Angels example: The club appointed John Mozeliak as baseball operations consultant and interim general manager on June 26, 2026. The Angels said he would oversee day-to-day baseball operations, refine strategy, and assist in the search for a permanent GM.

4. Assistant GMs and department leaders: turning strategy into work

Assistant general managers often own major portfolios, coordinate departments, and bring recommendations to the top executive. Their responsibilities depend on the organization rather than the title alone.

As of this review, MLB.com reported four Angels assistant GMs: David Haynes, Joey Prebynski, Matt Swanson, and Michael Lord. The same report said Swanson would oversee international, professional, and amateur scouting. The Angels’ player-development announcement identifies Prebynski as assistant GM for player development. We do not assign unpublished duties to Haynes or Lord.

Function	The question it helps answer
Amateur scouting	Whom should we select in the Draft?
Professional scouting	Which players in other organizations fit our needs?
International scouting	Which eligible players in international markets should we pursue?
Research & analytics	What does the evidence suggest about talent, risk, strategy, and projection?
Roster & contracts	What is permitted, affordable, and strategically sustainable?
Player development	How can each player improve and prepare for the next challenge?
Performance & medical	How can players train, recover, rehabilitate, and compete safely?

5. Player development: where acquisition becomes progress

Acquiring talent is only the beginning. Player-development staff translate organizational goals into individual plans across the Minor Leagues. Coordinators connect instruction across affiliates; coaches work directly with players; athletic trainers, strength staff, dietitians, video staff, and clubhouse personnel support the daily environment.

The Angels’ official 2026 player-development announcement demonstrates the scale: it names staff at Triple-A Salt Lake, Double-A Rocket City, High-A Tri-City, Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, the Arizona Complex League, and the Dominican Summer League, plus coordinators and specialists across pitching, hitting, defense, medical services, strength, nutrition, video, administration, and clubhouse operations.

6. The manager and coaches: running the Major League environment

The manager leads the Major League field staff, communicates with players and executives, and makes many day-to-day competitive decisions. Coaches prepare players, teach, plan, interpret information, and contribute specialized expertise.

The front office builds the roster; the manager works with the roster available. In practice, communication flows both ways. Coaches observe players up close, while front-office departments provide information and organizational priorities.

Current Angels example: Kurt Suzuki manages the 2026 Angels. The official staff list also identifies coaches and support roles in pitching, hitting, catching, infield, outfield, baserunning, strength, athletic training, interpreting, equipment, and clubhouse operations.

7. Business and ballpark operations: the team fans experience

A baseball club is also a live-event, media, hospitality, and community organization. Ticketing, guest services, concessions, security, groundskeeping, maintenance, broadcasting, production, partnerships, communications, and community programs do not choose the 26-man roster—but they shape whether the organization succeeds as a public institution.

That is why The Big A Companion will not treat stadium workers as background scenery. When we profile ushers, concession workers, and other employees, we will verify names and roles and obtain permission before sharing personal stories.

Primary and official sources

• MLB.com: Agreement for KSE to acquire controlling interest in the Angels
• Angels press release: 2026 baseball-operations leadership change
• MLB.com: Angels assistant GM promotions and scouting restructure
• Angels press release: 2026 player-development staff
• Angels official Major League coaching and staff list

Last reviewed: September 3, 2026. Roles described as common functions may be organized differently by different clubs. The Big A Companion is an independent fan publication and is not affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels or Major League Baseball.