Albert Pujols is no longer talking to the Los Angeles Angels about their vacant managerial job, according to multiple reports Monday.
The former slugger reportedly met with Angels general manager Perry Minasian in St. Louis earlier this month for “preliminary discussions,” but the two sides could not come to an agreement on length or amount of a potential contract, according to The Athletic.
The New York Post said talks broke down due to differences regarding “coaches, resources, and compensation.”
The San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles are reportedly still interested in talking to the 45-year-old Pujols — whose managerial experience consists of leading Leones Del Escogido to the Dominican Winter League in January — for their open managerial positions.
Former outfielder Torii Hunter, who spent five seasons of his 19-year career in Los Angeles, and former catcher Kurt Suzuki, who spent the last two seasons of his career with the Angels, top a long list of potential candidates to head the Angels, per the Post.
The Angels’ job came open when the team parted ways with its incumbent manager and its interim manager after the season ended.
Ron Washington, in his second season as the club’s skipper, went on medical leave in June and subsequently had quadruple bypass heart surgery. Ray Montgomery led the Angels on an interim basis the rest of the campaign, and the team finished 72-90.
Washington, who was credited with all of the 2025 season’s results, had a 135-189 mark in two years on the job.
Pujols’ playing career largely consisted of two acts: a Hall of Fame-worthy 11-year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals (2001-11), then a modest 10-year run with the Angels (2012-21). He also had a career-ending coda consisting of a brief stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021) and a farewell year with the Cardinals (2022).
A three-time Most Valuable Player, 11-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, Pujols was part of World Series championship teams with St. Louis in 2006 and 2011.
His 703 home runs rank fourth on the all-time list, and he is second with 2,218 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
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