Albert Pujols Interviews for Managerial Position with Orioles

It seems the Angels aren’t alone in their interest in Albert Pujols for a managerial role.

The renowned first baseman is set to interview for the manager position with the Orioles, as reported by ESPN on Wednesday.

The Orioles parted ways with manager Brandon Hyde in May after an underwhelming start, leaving the team with a 15-28 record at that time.

Hyde previously guided the Orioles to an AL East championship in 2023, leading them to the postseason as a wild-card team in 2024. However, things didn’t improve under interim manager Tony Mansolino, as they ended the season at the bottom of the American League East with a 75-87 record.

Interestingly, Mansolino is being considered as a potential internal candidate for the role.

Pujols, now 45 and retired since 2022, hasn’t played for the Orioles, but he certainly has connections there. For one, Mike Elias, the Orioles’ director of baseball operations, scouted for the Cardinals during the 2000s when Pujols was on the team. Additionally, Matt Holliday, whose son Jackson is an up-and-coming star for the Orioles, has a friendly relationship with Pujols from their time together in St. Louis.

While Pujols has previously coached the Dominican national team in both the Dominican Winter League and the World Baseball Classic, he hasn’t held a position on a major league staff before.

He has also had discussions with the Angels, where he enjoyed a long tenure from 2012 to 2021 and earned All-Star accolades. According to reports, he is the “first choice” for the Angels’ managerial position following promising talks with general manager Perry Minassian. Although no deal has been finalized, there’s a possibility that Pujols could be offered a coaching option.

The Angels are currently in a state of transition, with both manager Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery having resigned. Washington, 73, missed a significant part of his second season due to quadruple bypass surgery, and the team unfortunately missed the playoffs for the eleventh consecutive year, finishing with a record of 72-90.