The Angels aren’t the only team vying for Albert Pujols’ managerial services. Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the Orioles are expected to interview Pujols for their opening. Baltimore fired Brandon Hyde in May of this past season. Tony Mansolino took over on an interim basis, and he remains in the mix for the full-time gig.
The ESPN story comes less than a week after reports of Pujols closing in on the Los Angeles job. The Hall of Fame first baseman was regarded as the frontrunner for the position at the beginning of October, and follow-up stories have supported that notion, though there’s been no report of an official offer from the Angels. Gonzalez and Passan noted that Los Angeles is still the most likely landing spot for Pujols.
Baltimore dismissed Hyde after a 15-28 start. The team entered the season with plenty of fanfare after two consecutive postseason appearances, but fell well short of expectations. The Orioles did improve to 60-59 under Mansolino. Hyde had elevated the team from the basement of the American League to a contender in the challenging NL East. He earned AL Manager of the Year honors in 2023 after bringing home the club’s first division title since 2014.
Despite the poor 2025 campaign, there’s a lot to like about the Orioles’ outlook. The team is loaded with proven young talent, including Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Adley Rutschman, and Jordan Westburg. Fellow youngsters Colton Cowser, Samuel Basallo, and Coby Mayo have shown flashes in limited action. The pitching staff is a question mark, but Trevor Rogers broke out as an ace, and Kyle Bradish has shown considerable upside when healthy. The team should also have the flexibility to add in free agency. FanGraphs’ RosterResource tool estimates Baltimore’s payroll to be around $81MM for next season. That’s about half the amount they spent in 2025.
In addition to the enticing roster, a couple of St. Louis connections could make Baltimore a desirable landing spot for Pujols. As Gonzalez and Passan point out, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias was a scout for the Cardinals during Pujols’ playing days. Pujols is still close to Cardinals teammate Matt Holliday, the father of Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday.
If Pujols does land a job with an MLB team, it’ll be his first in affiliated ball. He managed Leones del Escogido, a Dominican winter ball team, last offseason. Pujols has been tabbed to lead the Dominican Republic national team in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, though that would likely change if he earns a major-league position.
I heard somewhere that interviewing candidates is a professional move.
Now I’d argue that the professional quality of said candidates would be the judge of that.
This is one of those phone a friend moments from who wants to be a millionaire. Arte will have a contract ready for Albert to sign tomorrow morning.
Thats…..actually kinda wild. Interesting to see my O’s considering guys with limited to no managerial experience even if its just due diligence. I imagine Pujols would be more inclined to go for the Angels job due to his familiarity with the organization. However I imagine the O’s situation is a bit more palpable in terms of potential immediate success despite the big underperformance this past season due to a variety of reasons. I imagine more organizations will probably at least check in on Pujols for potential interviews if he is seriously being looked at by multiple teams.
I imagine Pujols would be more inclined to go somewhere other than Anaheim due to his familiarity with the organization. But I don’t know if any team other Anaheim will be interested.
lmfao touche xD
MLB Top 100 Commenter-Non-Anaheim interest for Pujols
mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/albert-pujols-expected-…
I had to go to a special doctor cause my Pujols always hurting. He said Pujols weren’t made for the things I have been doing to them and that I need to stop.
Hows your Rendon? I told the Dr mine wont work. After many appotiments with no results he said we’d just have to cut it loose. It was all good in my younger yrs so be careful when Rendons get old, they’ll just become useless.
I wish the Os played in the NL East
So, the O’s don’t care, eh?
Still say orioles need someone with experience. Not necessarily some old retread like rojas, maybe someone like baldelli. Id love to get bochey, but there is no way hed sign up with us.
@Porcupine He only lacks experience in title. He played 22 years many of which on rosters with plenty of young.playets, has been a clubhouse leader, has experienced numerous different managerial styles and clubhouse cultures.
Bottom line he know baseball, would likely be respected by players, and has leadership experience in the clubhouse.
I love when players like Pujols want to get into managing. I think its great for the game and the young players on those rosters. An All Time great staying in the game longer and passing own knowledge and his experiences.
I imagine Baldelli would be a good fit for us, guy with some experience managing, has an inclination to using advanced metrics for managerial decisions (though nowadays you kinda have to be able to do that at the manager position) and a fairly young guy to boot so its not like he wont have the pulse of a younger team. Of the available and potentially interested guys he would probably be my choice as he has a bit more successful experience than others. I haven’t seen him express specific interest in the O’s but I would love to have the guy over most of the options I’ve seen bandied about.
Mathany
Ausmus
Melvin
Holliday has proven to be solidly one WAR.
Matt Holliday was 44.4 WAR, oh you meant his son? It’s only his 2nd year in the majors.
…so far.
Pujols knows how messed up the Angels are.
Feel like Baltimore will go with the safe/boring hire and bring in Melvin.
Too bad the Cardinals are entering the Chaim Bloom era because firing Marmol and hiring Pujols would actually make sense if they were interested in winning
Pujols doesn’t need to tarnish his legacy in STL. That can really only go one way with a team that is that is in a mini rebuild.
Note: Albert can’t run to first base
Ex superstars are never good managers. Don Mattingly is like your best player who was an okay manager. I don’t understand the fascination with Pujols.
Frank Robinson?
He’s too smart to think he can fix the clown show, so he’ll never manage the Pobres.
But I’m dumb enough to believe wholeheartedly that he is The One.
I think it’s hilarious how everybody in the comments are pretending to be a GM. There’s a reason why it’s called an “interview” not “let’s hire a guy for fun” you hear what he has to say and go from there. Every manager (including the best of the best) had their first game
That’s literally the entire site and has been since I first gor here in the 00’s
As an Angels fan I wouldn’t want anyone talking to Albert. Yeah hes inexperienced but I dont think he’d put up with Artes crap. He’d want to win and a winning roster and coaches etc to do so. And a working A/C. Get him to help shape the culture. They need reasons to come because they don’t have many if any