Angels Rumors: Latest on Managerial Hunt, Buck Showalter; Darin Erstad
The Los Angeles Angels are in search of a new manager after letting Phil Nevin go following the conclusion of the 2023 season. This will be their fifth manager since 2018, so the Halos will want to make sure that they get this hire correct.
General Manager Perry Minasian has already said that the team won’t rush anything, as they want to do their due diligence on picking the next manager. But the team may want to get someone into the role by the time free agency gets into the swing of things. Most players tend to prefer to sign with teams where they know who the skipper is.
The Angels could go a few different ways with their managerial search, but it is said that owner Arte Moreno prefers a veteran to lead the squad. Moreno wants to field a competitive team in 2024, so this line of thinking makes some sense.
One name that has been circulating recently is former New York Mets manager Buck Showalter. He would check the boxes for the Angels and could bring experience to the table. Insider Jon Heyman of The New York Post gives some insight into everything.
“The Angels are believed to seek a veteran manager to lead their young team. So, ex-Mets manager Buck Showalter makes sense.”
Hiring Showalter would be on par with how the Angels have done things over the years. Just like when they hired former manager Joe Maddon, the Halos tend to make splashy hires whenever they can.
Showalter isn’t a bad manager at all, but this team really should think about rebuilding. Another name that could be of note is former Angels player Darin Erstad. Erstad managed the University of Nebraska and is said to be getting consideration as well.
“Owner Arte Moreno is said to like Showalter. Angels great Darin Erstad, formerly the head coach at Nebraska, is getting mentioned, too.”
No matter what direction the Angels go in their search, unless they change how they operate, things will likely remain the same. This team hasn’t made the playoffs since 2014, and they have been stuck in mediocrity for years.
