The Angels’ Managerial Search

We’re tracking all of the managerial hiring situations around the league with team-specific posts, and it’s time to introduce one for the Angels. Mike Scioscia just wrapped up a 19-year tenure with the organization that included a whopping ten-year, $50MM contract — a managerial pact that’s still without compare.

As of late last week, the Halos were wrapping up their first round of chats with potential candidates, as Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group reported. At least ten candidates were slated for an early look, with the remainder of the process — and the identities of most names under consideration — largely unknown.

There still aren’t a ton of names available, but we learned more about the club’s approach from MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (Twitter link). Beyond reviewing resumes and speaking with candidates, the Angels front office is said to be “administering [a] 2-hour written test to managerial candidates” that poses “questions spanning analytical, interpersonal and game-management aspects of the job.” Needless to say, that’s an interesting process.

Here’s the latest on individual candidates:

Latest Update – 10/20

• The Angels have interviewed Rays major league field coordinator Rocco Baldelli, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports and Fletcher confirms. Baldelli’s among 10 candidates who interviewed during the first round of the process, per Fletcher, though he reports there are only six confirmed names (Baldelli, Vizquel, Chavez, Ausmus, Espada and Hyde). While it’s unknown which candidates have stood out to the Angels thus far, Fletcher writes that they could name their next manager by Monday.

Earlier Update — 10/18

• Longtime big league infielder Omar Vizquel interviewed for the position but is no longer in consideration to be hired, per Venezuelan journalist Efrain Zavece on his podcast (Twitter link; hat tip to MLB.com’s Maria Guardado). The 51-year-old Vizquel previously served as the Tigers’ first base coach (under fellow Halos managerial candidate Brad Ausmus) and has spent the past two seasons managing in the White Sox’ minor league ranks.

Previous updates below…

Have Interviewed/Will Interview

• Eric Chavez, who finished the season as the Angels’ Triple-A manager, has interviewed for the position, per Morosi. The same is true of former Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus, who is currently a special assistant to Angels GM Billy Eppler. Chavez, in particular, was reported as a favorite for the job early in the process — in some cases, before Scioscia even formally stepped down.
• Astros bench coach Joe Espada is among the initial candidates, as ESPN.com’s Marly Rivera reports. He’ll get an interview, if he hasn’t already, per Fletcher, who notes that the timing was not yet clear given the Houston ballclub’s ongoing postseason commitments. Espada, who is in his first year in his role, is also drawing interest from multiple other teams.
• Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde received an interview from the Halos, according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (via Twitter). He has ample experience in the Chicago dugout, including a pair of campaigns as bench coach and three prior years as first base coach. Hyde also spent five years as a minor-league manager within the Marlins organization. Like Espada, he’s chatting with other clubs as well.

Potential Candidates

• It isn’t yet certain who else the Halos have sat down with, but it seems there are some strong hunches. Fletcher tabs four internal possibilities: special assistants Brad Ausmus and Eric Chavez along with field personnel Dino Ebel (third-base coach) and Josh Paul (bench coach). Those looking for more reading on the topic may also want to check out this recent post from MLB.com’s Maria Guardado. She recently ran through some possible names to contemplate, included many of those covered above. While it’s not clear whether or not they’re considered candidates by the L.A. organization, Omar Vizquel (White Sox minor-league manager) and Joe McEwing (White Sox bench coach) are tabbed by Guardado as conceivable possibilities.