A reckoning is coming to Anaheim

Winter is coming to Westeros, but it might be coming to Anaheim after this season as well. We learned last week that Manager For Life Mike Scioscia actually has an opt-out in his absurdly long contract after this season and that he couldn’t be troubled to deny that he might exercise that clause. His only comment on the matter (aside from saying he won’t comment) was this:

“There’s always change that comes with time. I’ve gone through them already through 16 years, with just growing as a person, growing as an individual. I love what I do, I love where I am. That’s it.”

Though there are corners of the Angels fandom that wouldn’t mind seeing Scioscia and the Halos part ways, there is little doubt that his departure would represent a monumental change in Anaheim due simply to how long he has been with the franchise. That change might only be the beginning though.

Jerry Dipoto finds himself in an even more precarious contract situation as the team has an option on him for 2016 that they have yet to exercise. There is also the looming uncertainty around the Angels’ stadium situation. They have an opt-out window that opens after 2016, but one would think they’d need to have a plan for their future home in place before the 2016 season even begins if they are going to make use of that opt-out window, or at least credibly threaten ot use it. Everybody’s got an option for something.

New manager? New general manager? New stadium deal? Yeah, this could be a very busy winter and there is no telling exactly how it is all going to shake out.

There are so many ways the Angels power structure could be altered based on all of these different option decisions. In one scenario, Scioscia could utilize the threat of his opt-out to leverage Arte Moreno, who is known to hold Scioscia in high esteem (in case the ridiculous 10-year extension he originally gave Scioscia didn’t tip you off), to wrest back more control of the franchise. Scioscia has spent the last few years evolving his managerial profile to be more on “the same page” as GM Jerry Dipoto after having a great deal of sway over roster decisions during the ill-fated Tony Reagins regime. But perhaps the limited success during the Dipoto era will have Scioscia growing weary of accommodating Dipoto. This would be Scioscia’s best opportunity to give Arte a “me or him” ultimatum.

Conversely, Moreno could nip that potential scenario in the bud by showing some faith in Dipoto by not just exercising his 2016 option, but by giving him an extension of his own. An aggressive showing on that front could be used to force Scioscia out. It has long been said that Arte would never straight out fire Scioscia, but if Moreno hitches his wagon to Dipoto, Scioscia might get the hint and walk away, saving Arte the hassle of firing him if he’s decided that the Angels need a new voice (which there is no indication of one way or the other).

Or Moreno could continue his nihilistic management approach of the last few years by picking up Dipoto’s 2016 option late in this current season, functionally keeping him on board as a lame duck once again, and then waiting around until the season is over to see what Scioscia decides to do. This seems like the most likely outcome. Arte has taken the same attitude with the ongoing stadium stalemate. He isn’t talking with the city of Anaheim anymore but he also isn’t actively pursuing alternatives anymore, at least not publicly. By all appearances, Moreno’s plan for the future of the Angels on and off the field is that there is no plan.

All three of these decisions will have a huge impact on what this team looks like in 2016. Will the roster continue to evolve in the sabermetric-fueled vision of Dipoto? Will Scioscia be given back control over personnel and remake the roster in his image? Will Moreno tighten up the finances so he can fund the building of a new stadium in some other corner of Orange County? Will Moreno go the other way, blow out all of the current management, install a front office and coaching staff full of puppets to due his bidding and resume spending recklessly on the open market?

Anything and everything is on the table at this point. It could all turn out to be much ado about nothing if the Angels surge into the postseason and make some noise in the playoffs, keeping Arte, Mike and Jerry all happy and gainfully employed and the city willing to meet Moreno’s demands to keep the team in town. Or this season can finish as a disappointment and all hell will break loose. Either way, get your popcorn ready, but also maybe find a fallout shelter.