The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had a star-studded list of possible replacements for Ron Washington as their manager.
Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter were both reportedly on that list. But neither will be the manager.
Instead, it’s Kurt Suzuki being hired by the Angels, per multiple reports on Tuesday.
Suzuki has spent the last three seasons as a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian.
He’s more known for a long career as an MLB catcher, one in which he made an All-Star Team and won a World Series.
Suzuki played 16 MLB seasons, including time with the Angels, Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves.
He was a career .255 hitter with 143 home runs.
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Suzuki won his title with the Nats in 2019. He had been an All Star with the Twins in 2014 (.288 average that season).
Catchers often make great managers, and the Angels will be hoping Suzuki is the next to fit that mold.
Pujols didn’t get far into the process, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
“A few differences came up in early conversations,” Heyman wrote of the breakdown in talks between the Angels and Pujols. “Pujols was the Angels’ top choice at the start but the sides differed on coaches, resources and compensation.”
Hunter, another franchise great, apparently didn’t do enough to beat out Suzuki, either.
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