If Not Pujols, Then Who? Angels Look Internally as Manager Search Continues

After speculation that Albert Pujols could be the next man to manage the Angels, the franchise legend might be heading elsewhere after meeting with other MLB clubs. Pujols was one of the biggest names linked to the Angels' managerial search, and his recent success managing the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic added to the hype. Despite this, reports indicate that other franchises are now showing serious interest. The Angels are shifting their focus internally as they search for their next clubhouse leader. 

Among those under consideration are two other familiar faces in Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki. Both are also currently serving as special assistants within the Angels organization and have earned their reputations for their leadership and communication skills during their playing days. The two have zero managing experience at any level, unlike Pujols. Yet both bring a strong understanding of the team's culture and the challenges that will come leading the current struggling roster of players that features an aging Mike Trout, as well as a younger core of players in Zach Neto, Jo Adell, and more. 

Hunter spent five seasons with the Angels from 2008 to 2012, serving as a cornerstone in the Angels' outfield. During his tenure, he hit .286 with 105 home runs, earned two gold gloves, two all-star nods, and a Silver Slugger title. Beyond the numbers, Hunter was known as a vocal leader and shared wisdom with a young Trout in the early 2010s. Suzuki, meanwhile, had a shorter stint with the Angels, spending his last two years of his playing career in 2021 and 2022. In the two years, the former World Series champion brought a veteran presence to the club and helped mentor the team's starters and catchers, and was Shohei Ohtani’s personal catcher in 2021. In his 14-year career, Suzuki has shared a lot of knowledge of the game, and his data-driven approach would fit in with the Angels' leadership.

The Angels' decision to keep their search within familiar cycles raises fair questions. The team has been through six managers within the last decade, beginning with Mike Scioscia, all the way to Ron Washington. The difference between these two potential candidates is how close they have been with this group of players, and there’s already a sense of trust and relationships between them. What the Halos need is a manager who can be a mainstay in the dugout and maintain a presence in the clubhouse that can last.