Pujols, who is a surefire Hall of Famer with more than 700 home runs, is reportedly meeting with the Los Angeles Angels right now about their managerial opening. According to reports, a contract is being discussed as well.
According to recent reports from The Athletic, St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols is reportedly moving closer to becoming the next manager of the Los Angeles Angels.
Sam Blum (Angels) and Katie Woo (Cardinals) report that Pujols met in St. Louis with Angels ownership about the job, and that a contract is being discussed.
Pujols's managerial chops
Pujols has spoken about wanting to become a major league manager in the past. He's already managed in the Dominican Winter League and is scheduled to manage the Dominican team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. However, if he does officially get this job, he's going to have to turn that down.
Why not the Cardinals?
First off, the job is not open. New chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom elected to bring back Oli Marmol. The Cardinals have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, and have finished under .500 for two of those, but Marmol returns. Perhaps Bloom didn't want to position himself with a franchise icon, knowing that would create a dynamic where he likely couldn't win.
They also may not have wanted to put Pujols through a rebuild, which they are about to embark upon.
The Angels situation
The Angels own the longest playoff drought in baseball, having not made the playoffs since the 2014 season. They finished last in the American League West this season, behind the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Athletics. They do have some intriguing pieces, including Mike Trout and pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.
Pujols and the Cardinals
One of the best players in team history, Pujols spent parts of 12 seasons with St. Louis. He was a three-time MVP with the Cardinals and helped them win the World Series in 2006 and 2011. He made nine All-Star Games with the Cardinals, pairing with the likes of Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright for a golden age in the team's history.
In total, he was an 11-time All-Star, a two-time Gold Glover, a batting champion and a six-time Silver Slugger. He hit 703 home runs and will be a definite first ballot Hall of Famer.
