The Los Angeles Angels have hired Kurt Suzuki as their next manager, ending a search that included former Angels slugger and St. Louis Cardinals icon Albert Pujols.

The 42-year-old Suzuki finished his 16-year career in the majors as the Angels’ backup catcher from 2021 to ’22, and he spent the past three seasons as a special assistant to Angels general manager Perry Minasian.

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Suzuki received just a one-year deal. Minasian’s contract is up after the 2026 season, too.

“He’s tied in with me,” Minasian said Wednesday, per SoCal News Group’s Jeff Fletcher.

Pujols met with Minasian on Oct. 9 to discuss the team’s managerial opening, per multiple reports. Although there was mutual interest, talks fell through when the two sides couldn’t agree on terms, according to The Athletic, which also reported Monday that former Angels outfielder Torii Hunter remained a candidate for the role. Hunter, like Suzuki, has been working as a special assistant to Minasian.

The Angels are going with Suzuki, who played for five teams and won the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals, yet has no professional coaching experience.

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After a 72-90 finish this season, the Angels decided to move in a different direction from not only manager Ron Washington but also interim manager Ray Montgomery.

On June 27, the 73-year-old Washington went on medical leave. He later explained that he had undergone quadruple bypass surgery on his heart. The Angels promoted Montgomery from bench coach to interim manager, but the team went 36-52 under Montgomery, once again finishing with a sub-.500 record. Montgomery wasn’t considered for the full-time manager position, but he was reportedly offered another role with the organization.

The Angels haven’t made the playoffs since 2014 and have finished fourth or fifth in the AL West in eight of the past 10 seasons.

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Suzuki is the organization’s fifth manager since Mike Scioscia’s 19-year run came to an end in 2018. Brad Ausmus lasted one season. Joe Maddon was in the role for two-and-a-half seasons. Phil Nevin was up next, replacing Maddon during the 2022 season and holding the position in 2023. Then came Washington, who made it a season-and-a-half before his health issues pushed Montgomery into action.