The Angels plan to interview Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki in their managerial search, reports Sam Blum of The Athletic. That comes less than a week after The Athletic reported that Albert Pujols was in talks for the position. Blum writes that while Pujols remains the favorite, owner Arte Moreno is now opting for a more comprehensive search.
Like Pujols, Hunter and Suzuki are former Angels players who remain affiliated with the organization. Hunter made two All-Star teams and won a pair of Gold Gloves during his run with the Halos between 2008-12. Suzuki spent the final two years of his playing career there from 2021-22. They’re now each special assistants to general manager Perry Minasian.
Neither has any MLB coaching or managerial experience. Hunter has spent nearly a decade in special assistant roles and was a candidate for the job that went to Ron Washington in 2023. Suzuki is on the radar of at least one other team this offseason, as he already interviewed with the Giants. Hunter has been very loosely floated as a potential candidate in Minnesota, where he was a star player and has previously worked as a special assistant. It’s not clear if the Twins plan to interview him.
While the three known interviewees all have ties to Moreno, they’re at least considering other possibilities. Blum lists Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, and former Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli as other potential targets. Hundley has already interviewed with the Giants and is reportedly the favorite for that job. Flaherty has been linked to the Orioles and Padres. Neither has managed in the big leagues before.
Hyde has said he hopes to continue to manage and was linked to the Giants’ opening. Baldelli told Dan Hayes of The Athletic this week that he’s open to managing again as well, though he indicated he’ll spend the early part of the offseason focusing on his family. Baldelli acknowledged that might not align with clubs’ timelines for hiring a manager but said he “fully (expects) to stay active” in some capacity with a team next year.
It may all end up being moot if the Angels hire Pujols. That’s not as certain as it seemed just a few days ago. Perhaps not coincidentally, the future Hall of Famer is also expected to interview with the Orioles.
I will bet that Buster Posey won’t consider Albert Pujols.
I think Yadier Molina would be a great managerial pick for a lot of teams.
Yes but only if Bengie is bench coach and Jose is also on the staff
Take your time.
Seems like a team that hasn’t been successful for over a decade shouldn’t exclusively consider dudes with no real experience running a team. Love Pujols and those guys, but I feel like the Angels need a Buck Showalter type to get them straight.
in that group Hyde (who replaced Buck in Baltimore several years ago) would fit that mold/ I am shocked he is not the headline pick since he lost his job over 2 bad months for an otherwise great run with the Os.
They just had Ron Washington and previously Joe Maddon and Brad Ausmus.
I don’t disagree with you, but pointing out that they’ve had both experienced managers and no experience managers (Ray Montgomery and Phil Nevin), and neither has made a difference.
Yes, we could somehow combine the DNA of Connie Mack, Casey Stengel, Terry Francona, and Joe Torre in a lab to create a super manager and still not sniff the playoffs.
They might as well hire me on the cheap. I guarantee I could match this year’s last place finish.
Showalter wanted the job (for some odd reason) two years ago when they hired Washington. Not sure if he’s still interested or if they are interested in him.
Hyde might be a good choice but i wouldn’t be surprised if they went with Suzuki
I have more faith in Suzuki than in Pujols.
I like Suzuki too.
Former catchers can make very good managers.
But, unfortunately, Arte likes to have marquee names to help with the bottom-line (i.e., $$$) even if the team just muddles through, at best.
No one is going to get the Angels right until Moreno sells the team or gives up control to a truly competent GM. The fact that he drove out Mike Scioscia is exhibit a
Agree!
Arte needs to sell and Perry needs to go.
Perry and his analytics team meddle in on-field decisions and drove out
Joe M. And Arte won’t spend on player development.
Don’t think we’ll be able to attract a top flight talented mgr with this group in place.
Scioscia needed to go.
Let’s give Mike his due … the 2002 club played beautiful (small) ball, managed wonderfully (with some great coaches in Joe M. and Bud Black too).
And I’m convinced that Joe would have succeeded but for Perry’s micro-management meddling.
So now what do we do? Perry and his analytics staff will do the same (whoever is managing) and Arte will continue to short change the team on needed player development.
The narrative around Mike is he did small ball, but that dude was way ahead of his time in really focusing on high OBP and plus defensive line ups
No. Moreno needed to go.
Angels need to go all in. Hire Pujols as manager. Hunter as hitting coach. Suzuki as game calling/catching coach.
Padres should hire Manny Ramirez as manager and Fernando Tatis Sr as strength and conditioning coach. That team would be fun to watch.
Hunter was offered a coaching job and he said no. It’s manager or nothing. I don’t like when someone doesn’t think they have to pay their dues and work their way up.
Counsel never did. He went straight from playing to managing the brewers and now cubs.
I retract my statement. Counsel retired spent 1 season as the assistant to the GM had his nose so far up his behind that he got the brewers job
Please hire either Darin Erstad or Tim Salmon.
Criteria: be a former Angel with no experience who might help sell tickets but not cost much.
…and the biggest criteria for Moreno: someone who won’t push back when he dictates how to manage the team from his office.
Alas, Arte refuses to do the one thing that would benefit the Angels the most…
What would benefit the Angels the most is getting better players.
Which will happen after Arte does what nearly all Angels fans want him to do.
There’ll be an investment in player development and the infrastructure needed to create a competitive team over the long haul.
Snubbed. And doubtful the Twins would want Hunter. He’s a little too opinionated and he’s made his bed with the Moreno. Just like Carew with the Twins.
We already knew about Pujols and Hunter. We were all hoping Arte would not add Suzuki to that mix.
Until Arte either sells or opens his wallet to spend on baseball development and analytics and hands the reins 100% to a GM/POBO, the Angels are not going to get better.
Arte should just be like Ted Turner was at one time with the Braves and name himself manager. who cares if its a violation of MLB rules?
it would be amusing.
I think he would rather be locked in a stadium windowless, basement room and count sales receipts than sit in a dugout with players.
It’s telling that the three candidates we know about are guys with zero experience.
This year seems to be trending toward many first time managers. It would be kind of refreshing to see.
Giants- Suzuki
Twins – Hunter
Padres – Hundley
Angels – Pujols
Orioles – Mansolino
Braves – Flaherty
Rockies –
Nationals –
All that fun being spilled….
I would still prefer the Angels go after Brandon Hyde or David Ross, but that is just my preference.
👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽
Albert Pujols acted like the Angels were a retirement home once he signed there. Took the money and ran
Step right up, folks!
Arte Moreno’s Big Top is back in town, and the main attraction is ?
that’s right folks you guessed it! managers
The manager search that feels more like Ringling Brothers than Major League Baseball
Albert Pujols may be the crowd favorite to take the reins, but the Angels aren’t done juggling. Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki fellow special assistants to GM Perry Minasian are also in the ring. And just when you think the act is over, here come the flying candidates: Nick Hundley (Rangers), Ryan Flaherty (Cubs), Brandon Hyde (ex-Orioles), and Rocco Baldelli (ex-Twins).
It’s a revolving door of résumés and nostalgia, but will Moreno finally stick the landing or just keep tossing hats into the ring? Stay tuned. The circus isn’t leaving Anaheim anytime soon.
Tickets are available at this special event
w.w.w sale the team.com
No coaching or managerial experience required! You just have to look good in front of the media. The Angels working to overcome the Rockies at being the least well-run organization in baseball. Says a person who would love to return to being a member of the fan base.
The Angels’ Arte Moreno Has Entered the 2026 Kentucky Derby… with a Mule
Arte Moreno’s 3-year-old mule, Lightning, is back in the paddock. They’re shopping for a jockey again. But let’s be real—this isn’t about finding the next great jockey. It’s about saddling up Lightning and praying for a miracle.
You could put the winningest jockey in history on this animal. He’ll break slowly from the gate, settle into last place, and when he asks for run turning for home it’s a Sunday stroll. No early speed, no closing kick. The greatest jockey alive is just along for the ride.
Managers don’t win 162 games without horsepower. And until Moreno sells the stable or stocks it with real talent, hiring a GM with a résumé and a manager with a vision won’t matter. It’s just another year of trying to coax magic from a mule.
Who’s the next fall guy?
General Hospital of Anaheim
Head Surgeon Arte Moreno Hospital Administrator Chronic denial syndrome
As the Angels’ elite medical unit reels from a record-setting wave of injuries, Head Surgeon Arte Moreno insists everything is “under control,” despite the fact that the entire infield is on life support and the bullpen is being held together with KT tape and hope.
• Dr. Neto can’t grip a scalpel or a bat without wincing.
• Nurse Detmers Hit with velocity failure AKG monitoring right elbow.
• Orderly Stephenson keeps dropping trays with his ailing elbow.
• Dr. Anderson and EMT Garcia are both sidelined after a tragic synchronized stretching incident.
• Pharmacist Chafin is mixing cocktails of cortisone and sarcasm.
• Surgeon Soriano is icing his forearm while sketching out a memoir: From Mound to Morgue.
• Chief Rendon hasn’t left the break room since 2023. ((PAGING DR. RENDON))
• Intern d’Arnaud keeps forgetting which dugout he’s supposed to be in.
•Head Surgeon Arte Moreno, in his pristine white coat, refuses to authorize any new hires, insisting, everything is under control We’re not hiring ,rebuilding or remodeling
Johnny, that was great, thank you for the laugh this morning.
Ya let’s not talk about the Skaggs trial