The Los Angeles Angels will no longer be pursuing future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols as their next manager, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Pujols emerged as the Angels’ top candidate after telling former manager Ron Washington he will not be returning for 2026. Heyman noted a few differences that came up in early conversations as to why negotiations are off between Pujols and his former club. These differences were coaches, resources, and compensation.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian met with Pujols in St. Louis on October 9, but it’s now clear that nothing came of the meeting. Now, the Halos will have to look elsewhere for their next skipper.

With Pujols no longer a candidate, the attention now turns to Kurt Suzuki and Torii Hunter. Both are former Angels themselves, with Suzuki playing two seasons with the club at the end of his career and Hunter spending five years with the club himself. Suzuki and Hunter already have a relationship with the Angels front office as both are special assistants to Minasian.

Hunter was in the Angels dugout several times as the season concluded. In August, the former five-time All-Star said he’d be open to managing of the right situation had presented himself. With Pujols out, Angels fans are hoping that the right situation for Hunter is now.

The Angels front office should be encouraged to move fast on a deal with Hunter if they want him at the helm next season. Hunter is also being considered for the Minnesota Twins’ managerial opening. He played 12 seasons with the Twins before signing with the Angels.

Padres, Orioles Remain Interested In Pujols

While the Angels are now out on Pujols after failing to come to an agreement, Pujols remains of interest to other teams across the MLB. The Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres have both shown interest in the three-time MVP.

After manager Mike Shildt suddenly resigned from his managerial duties in San Diego, Padres general manager A.J. Preller has been on the search for the club’s next skipper. Preller noted that there was no timeline set for a hire. The Padres are the only team with a managerial opening that finished above .500 last season.

Pujols may have viewed the Orioles job as more enticing, considering the club’s recent trips to the postseason in 2023 and 2024. There has been no formal meeting or offer between Pujols and the Orioles to date.

Pujols spent 10 seasons with the Angels after signing a 10-year, $240 million deal ahead of the 2012 season. He went on to manage the Leones del Escogido, a professional team in the Dominican Republic. Pujols led his team to a win in the Serie Final and the 2025 Caribbean Series. He is expected to be the manager of the Dominican Republic at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

With the possibility of a reunion between the Angels and Pujols shutting down, the Angels now look elsewhere to spark a shift in the organization after 10 straight losing seasons.