Are the Angels Following the Blue Jays' Blueprint?

The 2025 Blue Jays had a magical season that brought them within an inch or two of a World Series title. Teams around the league absolutely took notice, and while Toronto didn’t do it with the lightest payroll, they still came in about $100 million back of the winning Dodgers. The other Los Angeles team (of Anaheim), the Angels, had the league's 11th-ranked payroll but were “only” $60 million behind the Jays, and so it makes sense that we’re the team they are looking to emulate. In fact, they might be ahead of the curve, having started their plan already.

The Angels' GM, Perry Minasian, has been in that role since November 2020. He came in with a four-year contract, and ownership has been so happy with him that he recently signed a two-year extension. His bias towards copying the Jays model makes sense; Minasian spent eight years in Toronto, starting as a scout and working his way up to director of pro scouting. He would then work in Atlanta as assistant GM and VP of operations under former Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos. 

The 2023 Blue Jays turned out to be just two years away from a World Series appearance. So, for an executive who wants to put their team on that same path, emulating the 2023 Jays seems like the place to start. The Angels got a headstart on that plan by acquiring former Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi for last season. Kikuchi put up a career-best 3.3 bWAR in 2025 and was rewarded midseason with a selection to the All-Star team (a feat he was unable to achieve in Toronto). I watched very few Angels games last season outside of their matches with Toronto, but I would tune in for Kikuchi. The lefty with one of my favourite deliveries in the game set a career high for innings pitched and was the ace of the Angels' staff. 

Seeing that kind of success must have sent Minasian back to the well again. The next starter to become available from that ‘23 Jays team was former ace-of-the-future, Alek Manoah. After being placed on waivers following his return from IL, Manoah was claimed by Atlanta. Following the end of the season, Manoah was non-tendered and elected free agency. It didn’t take long for the Angels to pounce, signing him to a one-year deal, marking his third team in three months.

Not content with just two former Blue Jays, the Angels struck again. This time, they added the Jays' closer from the 2023 team, Jordan Romano. Romano was not just the closer but also an All-Star on that squad.

The Angels' plan seems clear at this point. Another pitcher from that 2023 Blue Jays team that might be available is José Berríos. We’ve talked a lot over the last month about Berríos’ future and the seemingly conflicting statements coming from those in the position to know more than we do. I’ve said before that I don’t expect Berríos to be traded, but if he moves, my money is on the Angels. 19 times since becoming the GM in Anaheim, Minasian has gone out and acquired a former-Jay. Maybe we should see if he wants to go for 20?