Despite his Hall of Fame resume and MLB clubhouse connection, Albert Pujols is reportedly out of the running for the Angels’ managerial job after contract talks allegedly broke down
18:29 ET, 20 Oct 2025Updated 18:29 ET, 20 Oct 2025
The Los Angeles Angels have decided not to have Albert Pujols as their next manager
Albert Pujols has accomplished just about everything an MLB player can. Five Home Run Derby titles, 11 All-Star appearances, two World Series championships, three MVPs, the second-most RBIs in baseball history — ahead of Babe Ruth — and the fourth-most home runs all-time. But even all that hasn’t been enough to earn him the vacant manager’s job with the Los Angeles Angels.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Pujols is no longer in the running for the club’s vacant managerial position. The Angels have not confirmed the report, but the decision reportedly comes after contract talks broke down following an in-person interview with general manager Perry Minasian.
Pujols played 10 seasons with the Angels and is ninth in franchise history with 1,181 games. He now works as a special assistant to the GM, earning $1 million annually under a 10-year personal services contract that started before the 2023 season.
At one point, Pujols was seen as a leading candidate for the role, reportedly impressing the team for his ability to lead and his dedication and vision for developing young talent. He continues to be one of the franchise’s greatest hitters, alongside current star Mike Trout, who hit 400 career home runs in September.
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He made it clear during Spring Training that he intended to pursue a managerial career and believed he was ready to take that step.
“If the opportunity is right and they open the door for me, I always say openly that I want an opportunity here in the big leagues,” he said. “I think being in the Winter League prepared me for the big job.”
Pujols has reporetedly quickly drawn interest elsewhere as a candidate for both the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres‘ managerial vacancies. The two organizations are in very different stages of their competitive MLB chances.
The Orioles are once again looking for direction after missing the postseason and finishing outside the top of the division for the 10th consecutive season.
Baltimore has made the playoffs just three times in the last decade and hasn’t captured a division title since 2014, when it reached the ALCS before being swept.
Pujols has drawn manager interests from several MLB clubhouses
First baseman Ryan O’Hearn was the club’s lone 2025 All-Star, starting at designated hitter for the American League before being traded to San Diego alongside Ramon Laureano in a multi-player deal.
That deal helped fuel an already loaded Padres roster, which has now won 90-plus games in consecutive seasons.
San Diego’s lineup already featured a high-powered mix led by Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., along with six players who hit double-digit home runs last year.
Los Angeles parted ways with manager Ron Washington after a 72-90 season including Washington’s own health issues that sidelined him for the final two months.
The Angels have reportedly narrowed their search to two internal candidates in Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki, who are both former players under the same special assistant role to Minasian.