Albert Pujols has met with the
Angels about their managerial opening, AP source says
[October 11, 2025]
By GREG BEACHAM
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols has met with the Los Angeles
Angels about returning to their dugout as their next manager, a
person with knowledge of the meeting told The Associated Press on
Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Angels aren't
publicly discussing their search for a successor to Ron Washington,
who wasn't brought back after two seasons.
Pujols met with general manager Perry Minasian in St. Louis, and the
iconic slugger appears to be the current front-runner to take over
the Angels in what would be his first in-season major league
coaching job of any kind.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has remained fond of Pujols, who played
first base and designated hitter for the Angels from 2012 to 2021
after Moreno signed him away from the Cardinals with a $254 million
free agent contract.
Pujols retired after the 2022 season. His 22-year playing career
included 703 homers and 2,218 RBIs, along with three NL MVP awards
and two World Series rings won in St. Louis.
Pujols' deal with the Angels included a personal services contract
after his playing career ended, and the 45-year-old Pujols has been
an offseason instructor in the Angels organization over the past
three years.
Since his retirement, Pujols has put on an Angels uniform and worked
with players at each of their past three spring trainings. He also
coached players at the Angels’ academy in his native Dominican
Republic.
Pujols has managed in the Dominican Winter League, and he is slated
to be the Dominican Republic’s manager at the World Baseball Classic
next year.
The Angels are looking for their fifth full-time manager in eight
seasons to replace Washington, who was dismissed last month. The
73-year-old manager missed the second half of his second season in
charge while recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery, with
interim manager Ray Montgomery filling in.
The Angels have had regular upheaval in their dugout and nothing but
losing seasons since Mike Scioscia's departure after the 2018
season. No manager has lasted three full years since Scioscia's
19-season tenure ended.
The Athletic first reported the Angels’ meeting with Pujols.
[to top of second column] |
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols waves to players
in the Colorado Rockies dugout in the second inning of a baseball
game, Sept. 12, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Pujols should fully understand the depth of the
challenge he is undertaking: Los Angeles’ streaks of 10 straight
losing seasons and 11 straight non-playoff seasons are the longest
in the majors, and both began during his playing career.
Pujols actually played on three winning teams during his first four
seasons in Anaheim, and he was a key component of the Angels’ last
playoff team in 2014 alongside Mike Trout, who would be working
under his longtime friend if Pujols is hired.
The Angels traded Pujols to the Dodgers early in the final season of
his 10-year contract, and he finished his playing career with one
season back in St. Louis in 2022.
Although Minasian has assembled a modestly exciting young core led
by shortstop Zach Neto and outfielder Jo Adell, the team has shown
few signs of emerging from its decade of profound struggle under
Moreno's stewardship.
The Angels lost Shohei Ohtani in free agency before Washington's
first season in charge, and they subsequently won only 63 games
during the worst season in franchise history. The current team
improved to 72-90, but still had its second straight last-place
finish in the AL West.
Pujols will hope to join the minuscule ranks of superstar players
who also managed to become successful coaches or managers.
Baseball stars traditionally have struggled to replicate their
playing success in the dugout, with Hall of Famers from Ted Williams
and Frank Robinson to Paul Molitor and Alan Trammell all enjoying
only modest success as managers.
Pujols will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028.
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