For Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno, John Mozeliak represents something different.After taking control of the club in May 2003, Moreno inherited Bill Stoneman as his general manager, then went with four straight first-time heads of baseball operations – Tony Reagins, Jerry Dipoto, Billy Eppler and Perry Minasian (Dipoto was interim GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks from July 1 to Sept. 22, 2010, but that was the extent of his experience in the role).Mozeliak, who on Friday joined the Angels as a Baseball Operations Consultant, serving as interim GM, is the opposite kind of hire.When he stepped down at the end of last season as the St. Louis Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, Mozeliak was the game’s second-longest tenured lead executive, behind only the New York Yankees’ Brian Cashman.Mozeliak, 57, ran the Cardinals for 18 seasons, helping transitioning Chaim Bloom into the top job in his final year. He was out of the game less than nine months when the Angels came calling. And though his contract runs only through December, the task he faces is enormous — reversing the course of a franchise steamrolling toward its 11th straight losing season.The Cardinals accomplished much during Mozeliak’s tenure, reaching the postseason 10 times, capturing the National League pennant twice and winning the 2011 World Series. The team eventually sputtered, missing the postseason in each of the past three seasons. But compared to Anaheim, St. Louis was indeed baseball heaven.With the Angels, Mozeliak not only must overcome a losing culture, but also navigate a relationship with Moreno, a challenge his predecessors found exasperating. The extent to which Moreno will grant Mozeliak autonomy is an open question. Mozeliak addressed that concern and others Tuesday in an interview with The Athletic.At what point after stepping down did you realize you wanted to get back into baseball operations. And why the Angels? What about this opportunity stood out to you?There was never a moment in time that I felt like I had to get back in. I think really what happened was, the presentation of this opportunity intrigued me to want to do it.What intrigued you?I’ve always liked a good challenge. And after speaking with Molly (Jolly), their team president, over the past few weeks, the more we discussed this opportunity and the challenges that lie ahead, I just found it very intriguing, compelling and interesting.I was enjoying my time away from baseball. But this was something, in speaking with her, where I felt like this might be a very good fit for myself and this organization.What was it like being out of the game? It seems like you got the itch to return pretty quickly.A lot of people have sort of asked me that. The one thing about baseball is that you never get that break. The fact that I did get to have that time away, you could term it almost like a sabbatical. You can get recharged and refreshed.Where I was in my career and personally, it was the right time to step away and take that moment to refresh and get energized again.I know Steve Hilliard (a player agent) connected you with Molly. But I was wondering, who initiated the first conversation? What was it like?She reached out to me. I’d characterize the first conversation as more exploratory on both ends. Ultimately, it obviously led to more conversations. I would have to say it was first productive.Under first-year manager Kurt Suzuki, the Angels entered Tuesday with a 36-50 record. (Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)When was the first one?I believe it was around June 7.In your role with the Cardinals the past few years, when you looked at the Angels, what did you see? How did you view the Angels?Well, I think the way I’d answer that is that, obviously, they are a team in a robust market where finding a consistent pattern of winning was not happening. There are lots of things you can point to, lots of things I still need to learn about why. But my view of what was happening with the Angels is probably no different than most people’s.There are things that just weren’t going right. I don’t know the answers yet. I’ve only been here three days. But I’m certainly going to spend a lot of time and energy trying to understand what do we need to do to get them to where they once were.A lot of people, including me, find it curious that you took the job without talking to Arte Moreno? Why were you comfortable doing that?In my time with Molly, she told me that she’s responsible for this search, responsible for this hire. Subsequently, I have met with Arte since that (introductory news conference). I had breakfast with him (Monday). It was a productive meeting. When I left, I felt very positive.Do you have an understanding of his vision?I think he’s going to rely a lot on what I think the vision needs to be. I definitely think there is going to be opportunity to have some autonomy in how we do it. Obviously, he’s the owner. There’s going to have to be communication and trust built.