Health concerns derailed Ron Washington's Angels tenure. He reveals why his medical issues cost him a 2026 return, impacting team momentum.
The Los Angeles Angels are focusing on having an improved season in 2025, where they won 72 games to 90 losses. They’ve brought in several new players to make an impact on the field and overhauled their coaching staff under new manager Kurt Suzuki.
On Monday, former Angels manager Ron Washington revisited his time with the Angels and discussed why he was not brought back to be the skipper for the 2026 campaign.
“I think it was tough for [the Angels] to trust my health,” Washington said of why he thinks Los Angeles didn't bring him back via Foul Territory TV. “If I wouldn’t have went down, I think I’d still be in Anaheim.”
Washington became the manager for the Halos in 2024, leading the Angels to a 63-99 record in his first season. In 2025, the Angels saw a huge improvement under Washington, increasing their win percentage to .486.
The problem was that Washington was only able to manage 74 games for the Angels last year due to health concerns. In June of last season, Washington underwent major heart surgery that ended his year as the club’s skipper.
“That was disappointing because just as my issue hit me last year in June, I had my team going in the right direction,” Washington added. “I had the attitude good. They was committed to what we was trying to do – and then [the health concern] came down.”
Bench coach Ray Montgomery took over as manager for the rest of the season. The Angels went 36-52 the rest of the year under Montgomery, finishing last in the American League West.
“I made a difference in that clubhouse, and I made a difference on that team. I’m not patting myself on the back, but I did make a difference, and I could see the difference wasn't there when I wasn’t there.”
In the offseason, the Angels decided not to pick up Washington’s option and instead hired former catcher Kurt Suzuki on a one-year contract to be the club’s manager in 2026. Washington found a way to stay in baseball, joining the San Francisco Giants’ coaching staff as an infield coach.
“I’m enjoying myself here with the Giants. They took a chance on me and my health.”
The Angels did look like a much more competitive squad under Washington last season, but the front office ultimately decided it was time for a change after his health concerns and another 90-loss season – even if most of those 90 losses weren’t tied to his name.
Bringing in Suzuki injected some youth into the clubhouse as he is just 42 years old. Perhaps under a new manager and brand new coaching staff, something can finally click in Anaheim – Angels fans can only hope.