Angels, Albert Pujols Discussing Contract to Be Next Manager

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols in the dugout during the national anthem before the start of a game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Apr 5, 2019. | Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Albert Pujols never left in Anaheim in one sense. Since he last played in 2022, Pujols has worked for the team in the capacity of his personal services contract, an add-on to the 10-year, $240 million contract he signed in his prime as a slugging first baseman/DH.

Soon, he could be coming back to Anaheim in a new role: as the Angels' manager.

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As first reported by Sam Blum and Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Angels met with Pujols this week to discuss their managerial vacancy, and have begun discussing the terms of a contract. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, no formal offer has been presented to the future Hall of Famer.

Pujols met with general manager Perry Minasian on Thursday and the meeting went well, per the report.

“I always felt his baseball acumen is second-to-none," Minasian said of Pujols (via Nightengale). “His desire to win is second-to-none. And his ability to connect with all different kind of players, and make players believe in themselves is a hell of an attribute.

“Just the person, take the baseball part of it out, is impressive. The honesty. The belief. Everything. I think he can do whatever he wants in this game.’’

Pujols has been linked to the Angels' managerial vacancy in rumors for weeks. Friday's report serves as the first tangible evidence that Pujols is the favorite to succeed Ron Washington, whose 2026 option was recently declined by the team.

Pujols is three years removed from his final season in Major League Baseball, and four years removed from his final game with the Angels.

A future Hall of Famer, Pujols hit 222 of his 703 career home runs with the Angels from 2012-21. If he's hired, Pujols would become the Angels' fifth manager in eight seasons since Mike Scioscia managed his final game in 2018.

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Among his recent predecessors, Brad Ausmus, Joe Maddon and Washington all had previous managerial experience. Only Phil Nevin — promoted from bench coach to manager after Maddon was fired in 2022 — did not.

Pujols does have managerial experience, but not at the MLB level. He managed Leones del Escogido to the Dominican Winter League championship earlier this year.

Asked in spring training if he'd like to manage in the majors, Pujols said: “Yeah, I think why not. I think if the opportunity is right one day, I think I’ll be ready for that.”

Pujols' personal services contract with the Angels went into effect following his 2022 retirement. Since then, he has been in uniform with the club each year in spring training, and worked with Angels prospects at their academy in his native Dominican Republic.

Kurt Suzuki, a former Angels catcher who's already employed by the team as a special assistant, is coincidentally getting an interview for the managerial vacancy in San Francisco.

If Suzuki is a candidate for the Angels' job, it hasn't been reported to this point in the offseason. The Rangers recently became the first team to fill their managerial vacancy, hiring Skip Schumaker to succeed Bruce Bochy.

For more Angels news, head over to Angels on SI.