In expansive baseball ops search, Angels gather wide range of candidates: Sources

LAS VEGAS -- The Los Angeles Angels are accelerating their search for a new head of baseball operations under incoming owner Stan Kroenke. And the search is an expansive one, to say the least.

The Angels are asking permission to interview multiple candidates from a number of organizations for their top job, according to executives from teams that received the requests but were not authorized to speak publicly on another club's business.

A person briefed on the search acknowledged the Angels are casting a "very wide net," in part because Kroenke's group, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE), lacks familiarity with baseball. As a result, KSE wants to meet as many candidates as possible with different backgrounds and skill sets, learn about each, then determine who is the best fit.

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One major-league executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as to candidly discuss the situation, jokingly likened the Angels' search to "speed dating." Others said the Angels' list includes virtually every candidate mentioned in recent searches by other clubs, even some first-time assistant GMs.

KSE owns the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, NBA's Denver Nuggets, NHL's Colorado Avalanche and Arsenal, of the Premier League. But its proposed purchase of the Angels at a valuation of $4 billion would be its first foray into Major League Baseball.

A vote by major-league owners on the sale is not expected before December. It is unlikely KSE would move on a new head of baseball operations before getting approved. The team's interim GM, John Mozeliak, will remain on the job only through the end of his contract next month.

The Angels' current owner, Arte Moreno, will remain a minority owner under Kroenke and possibly could proceed with a hire at KSE's instruction. But if KSE somehow was not approved, the Angels would be stuck with a candidate they did not choose. The safer and expected strategy is to wait for approval.