It seems increasingly likely that the Angels might be on the verge of appointing a new manager—one with quite a legacy.
Albert Pujols has emerged as the “first choice” to take on this role, following what were described as “positive talks” with general manager Perry Minassian this past Thursday, as reported by The Post’s Jon Heyman.
“They still need to finalize training and a contract,” Heyman noted on X. “But Pujols will be offered a contract. Once the details are ironed out, they will select a coach.”
Pujols, 45, is considered the top prospect for the managerial position after the Angels made the decision not to renew Ron Washington’s contract for the 2026 season, according to an early October report from The Athletic.
During a decade with the Angels, Pujols hit 222 of his 703 total home runs and earned the National League MVP title three times.
While he has served as a coach for the Dominican national team in events like the Dominican Winter League and the World Baseball Classic, he hasn’t led a major league team yet.
If appointed, the future Hall of Famer will face significant challenges in turning the team’s fortunes around.
It’s worth noting that the Angels haven’t made the playoffs since 2014, the year Pujols hit his last postseason home run.
The team ended the 2025 season with a lackluster 72-90 record, leading to both Washington and interim manager Ryan Montgomery parting ways with the organization. Montgomery had taken over managerial duties after Washington underwent a significant heart surgery in June.
Washington, who previously led the Rangers to consecutive American League pennants in 2010 and 2011, was let go primarily due to the team’s performance, not his health.
The Angels have struggled, not having a winning season since 2015.
“When you’re a competitor and in charge, none of that matters,” Washington told The Athletic. “Sometimes, you just have to make something good out of a tough situation.”
