ANAHEIM -- Albert Pujols remains the favorite to be the next Angels manager, but the club has several other candidates they will interview as part of the process.
Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki, who are both special assistants to general manager Perry Minasian like Pujols, are also being considered for the job. Additional candidates could include Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and ex-Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, according to a report in The Athletic on Thursday.
Pujols already met with general manager Perry Minasian on Oct. 8 in St. Louis, a source told MLB.com. But Pujols is also being considered by the Orioles for their open managerial position.
Pujols is already on the Angels' payroll, earning $1 million a year as part of his 10-year personal services contract with the club that started before the 2023 season. Pujols, 45, has no Major League or Minor League managing experience but managed Leones del Escogido to titles in both the Dominican Professional Baseball League and the Caribbean Series this past winter. Pujols is also set to manage the Dominican Republic at next year’s World Baseball Classic.
Hunter and Suzuki are both former Angels who are looking to get into managing for the first time. Hunter, who played with the Angels from 2008-12, said in late August that he’d be open to managing if the right situation came up.
He spent time in the dugout in several of the club’s series down the stretch to get a better feel for how things are run. He rejoined the organization before the start of the 2024 season but could also be considered by the Twins for their managerial vacancy.
Suzuki, who played with the Angels from 2021-22, was also with the club late in the season as the Angels conducted their end-of-year reviews. The 42-year-old is also a candidate for the Giants’ managerial opening and he has ties to the Twins, having played in Minnesota from 2014-16.