The managerial search for the Los Angeles Angels is over.
The Angels are hiring former Major League Baseball catcher Kurt Suzuki to be the next manager of the Halos, per Jon Heyman.
Suzuki spent the last three seasons as a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian. He played 16 MLB seasons, with his last two coming with the Angels.
Suzuki was a well-respected catcher during his career, and there’s a reason Minasian kept him close by. The 2019 World Series champion hit 143 home runs with 730 RBI in 1,635 games from 2007 to 2022 and was a one-time All-Star with the Minnesota Twins in 2014.
According to MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger, Suzuki also interviewed for the San Francisco Giants’ managerial opening.
Los Angeles was rumored to hire former Angel and legendary slugger Albert Pujols to be their next manager, however, the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement and halted talks just one day ago.
“Pujols is currently a special assistant for the Angels, as part of a 10-year, $10 million contract that was triggered after he retired in 2022,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote Monday. “He interviewed with Angels general manager Perry Minasian in St. Louis on Oct. 9, but the two sides are no longer in talks, which was first reported by the New York Post.
“The Angels have since granted permission to the Padres to interview Pujols, which was first reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune.”
Former Angels center fielder Torii Hunter was among the candidates that fell out of the race Monday, a list that also includes Texas Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, former Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, former Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and current first base coach Bo Porter.
Los Angeles had another disappointing season, finishing last place in the American League West with a 72-90 record. Manager Ron Washington took a medical leave of absence to undergo quadruple bypass heart surgery in June and was replaced by interim manager Ray Montgomery.
Both were told at the end of the season that the team would go in a different direction and search for a new manager.