The Los Angeles Angels are considering hiring Albert Pujols as their next manager.

Struggling Angels Considering Albert Pujols As 2026 Manager

Charles Walton

The Los Angeles Angels are considering hiring future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols as their next manager. After going 72-90 this season under Ron Washington, the team declined to pick up his option for 2026. Pujols has been considered the top candidate to replace Washington ever since. Pujols played parts of ten seasons with the Angels before being released in 2021.

Albert Pujols Met With Angels GM

Pujols met with Angels general manager Perry Minasian on Thursday. While nothing is official yet, Angels beat reporter Sam Blum said on X (Twitter) that “the meeting went well and a contract is being discussed.” MLB frowns on announcements during playoff series, so any agreement would most likely be announced between rounds or after the World Series. Owner Arte Moreno has favored Pujols for the job, but another former Angel star, Torii Hunter, has also received consideration and is currently thought to be the second choice.

Pujols is already under a 10-year personal services contract with the Angels organization and has been a spring training instructor for the team. That contract would have to be resolved, as would Pujols’ position as manager of the Dominican Republic’s national team in the next World Baseball Classic. It is currently unknown if either of these would represent hurdles to Pujols accepting the job.

Albert Pujols As Player vs. Albert Pujols As Manager

There is no doubt that Pujols will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The 22-year veteran accumulated 3384 hits, 686 doubles, 703 home runs, 2218 RBI and 1914 runs scored while slashing .296/.374/.544. He retired with a career WAR of 101.3. The Dominican superstar was a three-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger and two-time Gold Glove winner. He won the Rookie of the Year in 2001, a batting title in 2009, World Series championships in 2006 and 2011 and the Roberto Clemente Award in 2008.

Everyone knows what Pujols brought to the table as a player. What is still unknown is what he will bring to a managerial role. As a player, he was not always known as a great communicator. His relationship with the press was strained at times during his tenure with the Angels. However, Pujols has had time to work on that aspect of things. He has spent time as an on-air analyst for MLB Network and has managed the Dominican Winter League, leading Leones Del Escogido to a championship there. Pujols has said for some time that he eventually wanted to manage, and the knowledge of the game is certainly there.

There have already been some discussions within the organization about Pujols’ coaching staff. Ramon Martinez is considered the top choice for his pitching coach. Martinez pitched in Los Angeles for the Dodgers for several seasons. He is the brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez.

Can Pujols Fix The Angels?

Most likely, the answer to that question is “no.” Los Angeles’ problem has not been the manager in recent years. They just let go of an excellent manager in Washington. Much of the team’s struggles have revolved around two key issues: starting pitching and health. The Angels’ best starting pitcher over the last five years is currently the starting designated hitter for the crosstown Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani. Beyond him, the team has struggled to find any consistency in the rotation and failed to spend the money to acquire it.

The other main issue has been the health of the team’s stars. Ohtani was a consistent force in the Angels’ lineup, but had arm issues that kept him from pitching for long stretches. Mike Trout is one of the greatest talents of his generation, but injuries have marred much of his last six seasons. Anthony Rendon finished third in the National League MVP race in 2019, but has not played even sixty games in any one of his six seasons with Los Angeles. Pujols was another example of how injuries derailed the L.A. offense. Though he played through most of his ailments, his numbers in an Angels uniform paled in comparison to his numbers in St. Louis.

So, unless Pujols can convince Moreno and Minasian to foot the bill for some top-quality starting pitchers, hiring him will look more like a PR move than anything. This team had talented position players to surround Trout and Rendon this season if those two had been healthy. Zachary Neto (26 HR, 26 SB) is a budding star at shortstop. Taylor Ward (36 HR, 103 RBI) and Jo Adell (37 HR, 98 RBI) provided plenty of power for the team. Logan O’Hoppe (19 HR) has shown flashes at catcher when he has been healthy. When your team has a 4.89 ERA, you aren’t going to win many games.

MLB, NFL, NBA, WWE, and AEW fan. Major stat geek, Former KCUI Sports Director and play-by-play man.

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