Future Hall of Fame player Albert Pujols, reportedly a candidate to be the Los Angeles Angels’ manager, also has interest from the Baltimore Orioles, ESPN reported on Wednesday evening.
The Orioles have not formally interviewed Pujols, 45, who retired in 2022 after 22 seasons, mostly for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Angels. The National League MVP in 2005, 2008 and 2009, Pujols has been open about his desire to manage in the major leagues.
His experience includes managing a Dominican winter baseball team, the Leones del Escogido, to a title in January. He is set to manage his native Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The Orioles, stocked with young position players, descended in 2025 after capturing the 2023 American League East title with a 101-win season and then 91 victories in 2024 for consecutive playoff appearances.
Manager Brandon Hyde was fired on May 17 after a 15-28 start, and interim manager Tony Mansolino showed a steady hand (60-59) as the team finished 75-87. The Orioles said Mansolino is a candidate for the full-time position but they also are looking outside the organization.
Threads between Pujols and the Orioles include Mike Elias, the team’s president of baseball operations who was a Cardinals scout when Pujols was a star in St. Louis. Former teammate Matt Holliday is the father of one of Baltimore’s top young players, 21-year-old infielder Jackson Holliday.
The Angels have strong ties with Pujols, with general manager Perry Minasian reported to have met with him last Thursday in St. Louis.
The Angels and Orioles are not alone in managerial searches, as there also are openings for the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals.
Pujols batted .296 with 703 home runs, 2,218 RBIs, a .374 on-base percentage and .544 slugging percentage in 22 seasons with the Cardinals (2001-11, 2022), Angels (2012-21) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2021). He won World Series championships with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011.
The 2001 NL Rookie of the Year, Pujols was an 11-time All-Star who also collected two Gold Gloves as a NL first baseman and six Silver Sluggers. Among his numerous other accolades are winner of the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award and the 2022 NL Comeback Player of the Year.
–Field Level Media
