The Los Angeles Angels have been searching for a new manager ever since they officially parted ways with Ron Washington at the conclusion of the regular season. Washington is a respected figure in the game, but health concerns caused him to miss the second half of the season, leading the Angels to make the difficult decision to let him go.
“It was obviously a really tough decision,” GM Perry Minasian said. “I love Ron Washington. I’ve been with him in three different places. I think he’s a heck of a baseball man. At the end of the day in this job, you have to make tough decisions, and we had discussions all day Monday with ownership, just talking through the season. And we felt like there needed to be a different voice.”
Washington began dealing with health issues in June and eventually underwent heart surgery. While he’s known as a great players’ coach, his future in baseball remains uncertain as more information comes to light.
“Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said Monday that he is recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery. It’s the first time he has publicly addressed the health issues that have sidelined him since late June,” ESPN reported.
The Angels appear to have their next manager lined up: former Angel and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. It’s an intriguing potential hire, as Pujols has no managerial experience, but he is widely regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the game. According to reports, the Angels are currently in contract negotiations with him.
“The meeting with the three-time MVP is believed to have gone very well, and the two sides are having preliminary discussions on a deal, though there is no agreement yet, according to a league source,” The Athletic’s Sam Blum and Katie Woo reported.
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Pujols was a strong clubhouse leader during his playing days, and there’s little doubt he could bring that same presence as a manager. Angels fans are hungry for a winner — and Pujols, with two World Series championships under his belt, certainly fits that mold.
The Angels have an exciting young core, and while Washington was initially expected to guide them forward, it now looks like Pujols will take on that challenge. An official announcement is expected soon, pending the finalization of a contract.
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