The Baltimore Orioles are expected to interview 11-time All-Star Albert Pujols as part of their search for a new manager, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez.
Pujols has already met with Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian. The Athletic’s Sam Blum and Katie Woo reported on Oct. 10 that he “has been the favorite choice of Angels owner Arte Moreno.”
Gonzalez noted that the Angels “still appear to be the most likely destination for Pujols.”
The 45-year-old’s credentials as a player are unimpeachable. A three-time MVP and two-time World Series champion, he’s one of the greatest hitters of the modern era.
Pujols has limited experience as a coach, though. He manages Leones del Escogido in the Dominican league, and he’s tabbed to lead the Dominican Republic at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
For as much as he achieved on the field, the surefire Hall of Famer is a wild card in a managerial context, and he’d present some risk for the Orioles given their present situation.
Baltimore looked to be on the precipice of something special when it won 101 games and claimed an American League East title in 2023. A 91-win season followed that before the team fell well short of expectations in 2025, going 75-87 and placing last in the division.
The Orioles’ championship window hasn’t closed, but the franchise has gone backward in a big way.
General manager Mike Elias has a lot of work ahead to undo the damage of his fire sale ahead of the trade deadline. Two-time All-Star Adley Rutschman, once considered a cornerstone, saw his offensive performance decline for the third straight year. The need for pitching is just as acute now as it was before Opening Day.
Maybe hiring Pujols is the kind of gamble that pays off in spades, but you’d think Elias would prefer somebody with more experience in an MLB dugout when the roster as so many questions.