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Angels Rumors

AL Notes: Twins, Astros, Gurriel, Angels

By George Miller | October 5, 2019 at 2:27pm CDT

Although the Twins’ have enjoyed a rapid turnaround from 78 wins a season ago to 101 wins and a division title this year, that breakout has roots tracing back to 2009, writes Dan Hayes of The Athletic. A decade ago, the Twins landed a transformative class of international amateurs—Miguel Sano, Max Kepler, and Jorge Polanco—that blossomed into franchise cornerstones and 2019 stars. At the time, the $4.65MM the team doled out to land the three 16-year-olds was uncharacteristic for the Twins franchise, which had largely been a non-factor in the international scene; the team had no academy in the Dominican Republic and had virtually no connections with the players’ pseudo-agents. That made it especially difficult to land Sano, a coveted prospect who commanded a $3.15MM bonus and captured the attention of nearly every MLB club. On the other hand, there was less competition for Kepler, a German-born prospect, and Polanco, a scrawny teenager who lacked the projectability of Sano. Of course, those signings have delivered immense value to a team that has ridden Polanco, Kepler, and Sano to the franchise’s first division title since 2010. According to Baseball-Reference’s version of WAR, those three have been the 2019 Twins’ first-, third-, and seventh-most valuable players, combining to contribute 12.8 wins of value to the team.

  • At age 35, Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel could be playing himself into another contract with Houston’s club, writes The Athletic’s Jake Kaplan. Gurriel has enjoyed a career year at an age where he should be declining, perhaps a reflection of his acclimation to the game in the United States. The 2020 season will be the last under his current contract, a five-year, $47MM deal inked prior to 2016, when he defected to the U.S. as one of Cuba’s most accomplished players. He’s by no means the star of a stacked lineup in Houston—he most often slots into the sixth spot for the Astros—but he has delivered solid offensive value, thanks in part to an in-season mechanical change, a focus on lifting the ball, and a heightened focus on preparation.
  • With eliminated teams beginning to consider offseason decisions, the Angels will have to decide whether to protect 26-year-old infielder Jose Rojas or expose him to the Rule 5 Draft. He posted career-best numbers at Triple-A this year, slugging 31 home runs and a .293/.362/.577 batting line. Mike DiGiovanna of Baseball America takes a look at Rojas’s case, pointing out that teams around baseball are having some difficulty tuning their evaluation of Triple-A players to the drastically altered offensive environment at the level. Since Triple-A leagues introduced the MLB-used baseball for the 2019 season, power numbers have universally spiked in Triple-A. With the reliability of raw home run numbers in question, DiGiovanna points out that teams are increasingly reliant on their scouts’ eyes in their valuation of Triple-A players.
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Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels Minnesota Twins Notes Jorge Polanco Max Kepler Miguel Sano Yuli Gurriel

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Managerial Rumors: Kapler, Maddon, Ausmus, Beltran

By Mark Polishuk | October 3, 2019 at 5:53pm CDT

Rumors have swirled that Gabe Kapler could be finished as the Phillies’ manager, though club ownership is taking its time in determining Kapler’s fate, as NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury tweets that a decision “likely” won’t be made until next week.  The Phils have a 161-163 record in two seasons under Kapler’s leadership, with both the 2018 and 2019 squads fading out of contention down the stretch.  This past season’s 81-81 record is particularly disappointing given the many high-profile roster additions made by the club last winter, though in Kapler’s defense, the Phillies also suffered through significant injuries to Andrew McCutchen and virtually every member of their bullpen.

The latest rumblings on dugout vacancies from around the sport….

  • Joe Maddon has widely been linked to the Angels’ job and “is set to interview with” the club, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports (subscription required).  As of Tuesday, there reportedly hadn’t yet been any contact between the Halos and the former Cubs skipper, though many expected it was only a matter of time before Maddon emerged as a candidate in Anaheim, given his longstanding history with the organization.  Maddon spent 31 seasons with the Angels as a player, minor league manager and coach, and member of the MLB coaching staff.
  • Brad Ausmus, the Angels’ former manager, is expected to interview with the Padres, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link).  A hiring would represent something of a homecoming for Ausmus, who began his 18-year playing career with 303 games for San Diego.  Ausmus is still owed two years’ worth of salary after being — rather surprisingly — fired by the Angels after the season, though it’s also understandable that he would pursue other opportunities for a quick return to managing.
  • The Padres had interest in interviewing Carlos Beltran for their managerial vacancy but the former outfielder declined the request, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports (Twitter link).  Since retiring after the 2017 season, Beltran was interviewed for the Yankees’ managerial opening that eventually went to Aaron Boone, and had worked for the past season as a special advisor in the Yankees’ front office.  Beltran had long expressed interest in working in a front office and potentially even as a manager, though it isn’t known why he turned down the chance to speak with the Padres.
  • Given the links between Beltran and the Mets, Feinsand wonders if Beltran could potentially be a candidate to replace Mickey Callaway, though Olney feels Beltran “seems like a total long shot” to be the next Mets’ manager given some of the hard feelings that exist between he and the organization dating back to his playing days.  As per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Beltran’s “relationship with [Mets] COO Jeff Wilpon is not good.”
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Los Angeles Angels New York Mets Notes Philadelphia Phillies San Diego Padres Brad Ausmus Carlos Beltran Gabe Kapler Joe Maddon

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Latest On Angels’ Managerial Vacancy

By Steve Adams | October 2, 2019 at 11:04am CDT

Owner Arte Moreno, frustrated with the Angels’ fourth consecutive losing season, was the one who ultimately pushed for a managerial change, reports Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. And although the timing of Brad Ausmus’ dismissal as Angels manager aligned rather conveniently with the news that Joe Maddon was out as Cubs manager, general manager Billy Eppler said in a conference call yesterday that Ausmus’ status was being debated even before the availability of other veteran candidates (i.e. Joe Maddon) was known.

Perhaps most interestingly, Fletcher adds that while there’s been heavy speculation about the Angels and Maddon, there had been no contact between the two sides as of Tuesday. Maddon wasn’t fired and is technically under contract with the Cubs through the end of October, although the Cubs organization clearly wouldn’t stand in the way of him talking with other teams at this point.

A lack of contact between the two sides certainly doesn’t mean that there won’t be any at all. To the contrary, it’d be a genuine surprise if Maddon didn’t emerge as a viable contender for the job. At the same time, the fact that the two sides haven’t even talked suggests that Maddon to the Angels perhaps isn’t set in stone. To that end, MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger lists Angels special assistant Eric Chavez, Astros bench coach Joe Espada and former Yankees manager Joe Girardi as possible candidates. Girardi, who publicly voiced a desire to return to the dugout just this morning, knows Eppler quite well from the pair’s days with the Yankees. Eppler, though, made clear yesterday that he needs to sit down with Moreno and team president John Carpino to formulate a list of interview candidates.

Furthermore, Eppler was emphatic in taking accountability for the Angels’ poor season. “I want to make it clear Brad is not solely responsible for the result of our season,” said the GM in yesterday’s call. “The majority of our short-term acquisitions that we made this past offseason did not produce to their forecast. And those failures lie with me.”

Indeed, the trio of Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill and Cody Allen proved unproductive, although Eppler did make some shrewd pickups over the past year. Right-hander Hansel Robles has proven to be one of the more successful waiver claims in recent memory, and Eppler nabbed another waiver gem just prior to Opening Day when he claimed Brian Goodwin off release waivers from the Royals organization. Those additions might’ve provided some bright spots this season, but the team’s starting pitching situation remains bleak and will surely be an area of focus for the Angels as the offseason approaches.

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Los Angeles Angels Brad Ausmus Eric Chavez Joe Espada Joe Girardi Joe Maddon

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Managerial Rumors: Angels, Maddon, Giants, Ibanez, Farrell, Gibbons

By Connor Byrne | October 1, 2019 at 11:15pm CDT

Joe Maddon is reportedly a leading candidate to take over as the Angels’ next manager, but he’s not the lone possibility to replace Brad Ausmus. General manager Billy Eppler stated Tuesday that the Angels “plan on sitting down with a number of candidates” to discuss the job, per Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times. Maddon’s a highly accomplished manager who earlier spent three decades with the Angels organization in several different roles, which seems to make him a slam-dunk choice for the position. However, it’s worth noting that Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported last week that the Angels might be hesitant to meet Maddon’s asking price. Maddon made $6MM this year with the Cubs, who moved on from him after they fell way short of expectations in 2019.

  • The Giants, who are seeking a successor to Bruce Bochy, are interested in ex-major league outfielder Raul Ibanez, Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports.  Ibanez has been working as a special assistant to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman since 2016, giving him familiarity with the Giants’ Farhan Zaidi. Before Zaidi took the reins as San Francisco’s president of baseball ops last offseason, he worked as the Dodgers’ general manager.
  • Former big league skipper John Farrell remains interested in a third go-around as a manager, Rosenthal tweets. The 57-year-old last managed in 2017, when he oversaw a Red Sox team that finished 93-69 and earned an AL East title. Farrell managed three division winners and a World Series champion (2013) in Boston over five years, though he also guided two last-place clubs during his uneven reign. Prior to that, he managed the Blue Jays to a 154-170 record from 2011-12. Farrell has served as a scout and a pitching consultant in Cincinnati since 2018, and he interviewed for the Phillies’ and Reds’ managerial openings during the previous two offseasons.
  • Fellow ex-Jays manager John Gibbons also could be a possibility for clubs, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com relays. The 57-year-old wants to manage again or at least serve as a bench coach, according to Feinsand. Gibbons lost his job in Toronto after 2018, ending a two-stint, 11-year run with the franchise. He led the club to a 793-789 record with a pair of playoff berths.
  • Astros first base coach Don Kelly is a candidate to draw managerial interest in the coming weeks, Morosi hears. The 39-year-old Kelly, best known for his run as a major league utlityman for the Pirates, Tigers and Marlins from 2007-16, is only in his first season as a coach. He spent the previous two seasons in a pro scouting role with Detroit.
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Cincinnati Reds Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels Notes San Francisco Giants Don Kelly Joe Maddon John Farrell John Gibbons Raul Ibanez

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Angels Fire Pitching Coach Doug White, Bench Coach Josh Paul

By Steve Adams | October 1, 2019 at 3:20pm CDT

3:20pm: The Angels announced that both White and bench coach Josh Paul have been informed that they will not be returning for the 2020 season.

3:16pm: Maria Torres of the L.A. Times tweets that “numerous” pitchers had trouble adjusting to White’s ideas, including younger arms like Jaime Barria and Jose Suarez.

3:00pm: The Angels have fired pitching coach Doug White, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (via Twitter). His dimissal comes one day after the team announced that Brad Ausmus would not return as manager in 2020. Like Ausmus, White’s tenure with the Angels will last just one season.

Prior to joining the Angels, White served as the bullpen coach for the Astros, though he only served one season in that role as well. He’d previously spent time as a minor league pitching coach and minor league pitching coordinator in the Houston system in addition to a half-decade’s worth of experience as a minor league coach with the Cardinals.

White was one of several members of the Astros’ 2018 field staff to be hired by other organizations, as other organizations looked to build out their coaching staffs with key members of one of the game’s most progressive and successful teams.

The match between White and the Halos seemingly didn’t bear fruit, though, as the team’s ERA, FIP, xFIP, walk rate and ground-ball rate all went in the wrong direction from 2018. Laying all of that blame on White isn’t fair, of course, as numerous external factors impacted the Angels’ results on the mound (injuries and, most notably, the death of Tyler Skaggs among them). But coaches must more than ever be on the same page with a manager, front office and analytics staff, and those relationships are often every bit as important as the team’s on-field results.

In the case of White, he was hired 10 days after Ausmus, so perhaps with the club simply believes that the incoming manager — widely speculated to be Joe Maddon — should have the opportunity to hand-pick his own pitching coach to ensure that the staff’s vision aligns as closely as possible.

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Los Angeles Angels Doug White Josh Paul

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Angels Fire Brad Ausmus

By Steve Adams | September 30, 2019 at 1:55pm CDT

1:55pm: Today’s news conference was canceled, but Eppler will speak to the media on a conference call tomorrow, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Bollinger adds that Eppler himself will be retained.

1:10pm: The Angels have formally announced that Ausmus will not manage the team in 2020.

12:52pm: The Angels have decided to fire Brad Ausmus less than a year after naming him manager, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports (via Twitter). The report comes just one day after MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that the Angels were “contemplating” Ausmus’ job status. The Angels have a press conference scheduled for this afternoon.

Brad Ausmus | Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Given the sudden nature of the move and the fact that the Cubs parted ways with Joe Maddon over the weekend, speculation will surely abound that Maddon is now the Angels’ top target. The 65-year-old Maddon spent more than a decade as a coach on the Angels’ Major League staff and even served as interim manager for the Halos in two different seasons, totaling 51 games at the helm.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweets that “a number of sources” believe Maddon will land with the Angels, although he adds that it is not yet set in stone. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times also suggests that clearing way for Maddon would be one of the only reasons the Angels would make the move at this time (Twitter link).

It’s a brutal blow for Ausmus, whose tenure in the dugout will last only one season despite signing a three-year contract just 49 weeks ago. The former All-Star catcher and three-time Gold Glove winner previously spent four seasons managing the Tigers and spent a year between managerial stints as a special assistant to Angels general manager Billy Eppler. At the time, it seemed possible that Ausmus was being groomed as an heir-apparent to manager Mike Scioscia, and whether that was actually the case, matters played out in exactly that fashion. Now, if Maddon lands with the Angels as many anticipate, Ausmus will meet the same fate as Rick Renteria — a first-year manager who is ousted with multiple years remaining on his contract because of Maddon’s sudden availability.

The Angels certainly didn’t produce the results they hoped in 2019, finishing out the season with a 72-90 record. But Ausmus was at the helm for one of what was surely one of the most tumultuous and difficult seasons in franchise history, guiding the team through the tragic loss of perhaps the heart of its clubhouse: left-hander Tyler Skaggs. Indeed, Eppler said in a statement announcing the move that Ausmus “navigated this franchise through one of its most difficult seasons with class and professionalism.”

The Angels were also plagued by additional injuries up and down the roster (again), as Mike Trout, Andrelton Simmons, Justin Upton, Andrew Heaney, Shohei Ohtani, Tommy La Stella and others were absent for significant stretches of time. That’s not to say that Ausmus had no hand in the team’s lackluster performance, but it’s difficult to see how any manager could’ve found success with the hand he was dealt.

If there’s a silver lining for Ausmus, perhaps it’s that there appears to be a perhaps record level of managerial openings for him to explore around the league — assuming he wants to continue managing. The Padres (Andy Green) and Pirates (Clint Hurdle) have already fired their managers, and the Cubs, of course, aren’t bringing back Maddon. The Royals (Ned Yost) and Giants (Bruce Bochy) have both seen their longtime skippers retire, and it’s also possible that the Mets (Mickey Callaway) and/or the Phillies (Gabe Kapler) elect to move on from their current managers. Ausmus presumably wouldn’t be a candidate for all of those clubs, but he’ll surely garner some interviews if he seeks out another opportunity.

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Los Angeles Angels Newsstand Brad Ausmus Joe Maddon

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Angels ‘Contemplating’ Job Status Of Brad Ausmus

By Dylan A. Chase | September 29, 2019 at 11:34pm CDT

11:32 pm: According to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, the Angels have a press conference scheduled for 12 pm PST tomorrow afternoon, which, if one is to read between the lines, could be something of an inflection point vis a vis Ausmus’ future with the club. Bollinger’s counterpart at The Orange County Register, Jeff Fletcher, notes that this press conference was scheduled five days ago, and had been expected to be a forum for Ausmus and Eppler to discuss the season and offseason (Twitter links).

10:25 pm: Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Angels are ’contemplating’ the job status of one Brad Ausmus (link), with sources indicating that a decision is expected to be made on the manager’s fate within the next 24 hours.

Last we had heard in regard to Ausmus’ security with the org, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times was relaying that the former catcher’s job was safe for 2020. Just today, the manager seemed nonplussed when presented with rumors about his potential firing that originated from Buster Olney of ESPN and Ken Rosenthal of Fox–two reporters working in presumably less proximity to the clubhouse than Torres. It’s hard to characterize this intersection of rumors as anything more than murky, but Feinsand’s depiction of a 24-hour window at least sets the stage for some kind of impending resolution to the situation.

Hired just this last offseason, Ausmus ultimately guided the 2019 Angels to a dreadful 72-90 record in his first year in Anaheim. Still, the former Tigers skipper could be forgiven for his current team’s struggles. For one, the impact of the July 1 passing of pitching Tyler Skaggs simply cannot be quantified. Skaggs was expected to be a crucial part of the team’s rotational mix, after a 2018 season in which he posted 1.3 WAR across 24 starts as a 26-year-old; aside from the on-field ramifications of Skaggs’ untimely departure, it’s hard to imagine how team morale must have been affected by the tragic death of such a close colleague and friend. The Angels were a game below .500 entering the All-Star break, but limped to a 27-44 record in the second half.

Elsewhere on the club’s roster, GM Billy Eppler tasked Ausmus with a bullpen that submitted a collective 5.10 ERA this year–good for 25th among major league teams. It’s also fair to say that the word “rotation” was very apt when describing the club’s starting situation. Los Angeles’ Opening Day rotation consisted of Skaggs, Felix Pena, Chris Stratton, Matt Harvey, and Trevor Cahill, but none of those players would be starting games by season’s end, in large part due to ineffectiveness. Starting pitchers under Ausmus posted a 5.58 ERA this year, a mark better than only Colorado and Baltimore. Offensively, the club missed outfielder Justin Upton for much of the year, while big-money slugger Albert Pujols once again provided negligible on-field value to the Angels lineup.

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Los Angeles Angels Brad Ausmus

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Managerial Rumors: Ausmus, Ross, Pirates

By Dylan A. Chase | September 29, 2019 at 7:25pm CDT

For those who are waiting with bated breath for the ousting of their favorite team’s manager, Angels skipper Brad Ausmus would probably advise you to ignore unconfirmed rumors. Today, Ausmus reminded Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register that his time as Detroit’s manager was marked by unfounded rumors of his impending ouster (link). “It came out that I was being fired [in 2015]. I was there for two more years.” Indeed, several major outlets reported that season that Ausmus was as good as gone from the Tigers dugout, but intervention by GM Al Avila was later said to be instrumental in the former catcher maintaining his job in the Motor City.

Besides this helpful bit of historical perspective, it’s pertinent to note that Ausmus was relaying this experience in response to questions surrounding his own, current job security with Los Angeles. When asked about rumors that the club may be looking for a managerial change in the offseason–rumors that may have stemmed from a recent Ken Rosenthal blurb–Ausmus was nothing if not succinct. “I have a contract,” he told Fletcher. “That’s the only thing I know.” Ausmus is signed through the 2021 season under a three-year contract he agreed upon just last offseason.

More notes on the game’s most hard-to-quantify uniformed role…

  • Former catcher David Ross is already a permanent figure in Cubs postseason lore–but could he become a regular fixture in their dugout in 2020? If Ross’ comments on ESPN this evening–as relayed by Jesse Rogers–are any indication, it sure sounds like he would have any interest in the now-vacant Chicago managerial position (Twitter link). “I think it’s one of the best jobs in baseball,” Ross said of the opening. “I’ve got a lot of close ties with those guys. I think the interest would be there. I think my heart is drawn to that dugout a little bit.” It’s worth noting that Ross also said his current role with ESPN does provide him with much-valued family time. At the same time, Ross’ quotes won’t do much to quell rumors tabbing him as the replacement for his former manager Joe Maddon.
  • Clint Hurdle was only relieved of his post as Pirates manager this afternoon, but Rob Biertemfel of The Athletic is wasting no time in churning the gears of the managerial rumor mill (link). Although the club hasn’t yet confirmed its list of potential hires, Biertempfel has been asking “players, coaches, scouts, executives, and others in the industry” for several weeks about whom GM Neil Huntington might like to interview. Included among Biertempfel’s suggestions are former Rangers skipper Jeff Banister, Twins bench coach Derek Shelton, and White Sox minor league manager Omar Vizquel. Interestingly, Biertempfel summarily dispenses with any notion of Pittsburgh bringing in Joe Maddon, as the reporter believes that Maddon’s salary demands will be a non-starter for the small-market Pirates.
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Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Angels Notes Pittsburgh Pirates Brad Ausmus Clint Hurdle David Ross Jeff Banister Omar Vizquel

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Quick Hits: Pujols, Wacha, Encarnacion, Kapler

By Connor Byrne | September 28, 2019 at 1:12am CDT

Unsurprisingly, Angels first baseman/designated hitter Albert Pujols has no plans to retire prior to 2020 or ’21 – the final two seasons of his 10-year, $240MM contract. Pujols, who will turn 40 during the upcoming offseason, told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register: “Whether it’s tomorrow or in spring training, if I feel one day the fire is not there, it doesn’t matter how much money is left on my contract, it’s time to go. But I don’t see that happening. Because this year this is the most fun I had because I was healthy and I was able to do things I wasn’t able to do in the past.” Pujols underwent multiple surgeries a year ago, causing his season to end in August, but the future Hall of Famer has hung in there from start to finish in 2019. While his overall production hasn’t been good, Pujols has managed to hit 23 home runs, leaving him four short of tying the legendary Willie Mays (660) for fifth on the all-time list. If healthy, Pujols may have a shot at reaching the hallowed 700-HR mark sometime before his contract runs out. He’ll earn $59MM during that two-year span.

Elsewhere around baseball…

  • Still just one game up on the Brewers in the NL Central, the Cardinals might not even make it to the NLDS this year. If the Redbirds do get that far, though, it’s “unlikely” injured right-hander Michael Wacha will factor into their plans, according to general manager Michael Girsch (via Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Wacha, who suffered a mild strain of his pitching shoulder Wednesday, won’t be able to pick up a ball for at least five to seven days, per Hummel. Fortunately, Wacha doesn’t have any structural damage, nor is this shoulder injury related to previous issues he has dealt with in that area. Manager Mike Shildt is optimistic Wacha will pitch again this season, but it appears that will require the Cardinals to advance to the NLCS.
  • Yankees slugger Edwin Encarnacion still hasn’t returned from the left oblique strain he incurred Sept. 12, and it doesn’t look like a sure bet he’ll play in either of the team’s last two regular-season games. Encarnacion said Friday that he’s not “mentally over” the injury, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News relays. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to overcome the issue by the time the Yankees’ ALDS matchup against the Twins starts Oct. 4.
  • The Phillies have folded in back-to-back years under manager Gabe Kapler, leading to speculation that the club could fire him at season’s end. Kapler spoke about his status Friday, telling Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer and other reporters: “It’s not something I’m thinking about right now. It’s not something I’m worried about and haven’t had any conversations about it.” Kapler at least “seems safe for the weekend,” Breen writes, but the Phillies could choose to go in another direction after that. The Phillies finished 80-82 under Kapler in his rookie campaign as a manager in 2018, and even after an incredibly active offseason, they’ll wind up with an almost identical record this year. They’re an even 80-80 with two games remaining.
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Los Angeles Angels New York Yankees Notes Philadelphia Phillies St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols Edwin Encarnacion Gabe Kapler Michael Wacha

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Managerial Rumors: Angels, Callaway, Bochy

By Steve Adams | September 27, 2019 at 7:36am CDT

The Padres have already moved on from skipper Andy Green, whereas Ned Yost has announced that this’ll be his final year managing the Royals. There’s been some recent chatter surrounding the fate of Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, as well, which stemmed largely from none other than Hurdle himself. It’s the time of year that’s typically filled with managerial/coaching/front office turnover, and there won’t be any shortage of rumblings on that front over the next several days. Here’s some of the latest from that arena…

  • Although Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently suggested that the Angels would “consider” moving on from Brad Ausmus after just one season in order to pursue Joe Maddon (should he become available, as many expect), Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times writes in her latest Angels mailbag column that Ausmus is will be back in 2020. Torres adds that she’s received no indication that any members of the coaching staff are in particular danger of being replaced, either. Ausmus is signed through the 2021 season under a three-year contract he agreed upon just last offseason.
  • The Mets’ second-half Wild Card push fell short but was enough to at least raise speculation about Mickey Callaway surviving the offseason and returning for a third year. Nevertheless, SNY’s Andy Martino writes that multiple people connected to the team will still be surprised if Callaway is retained after the season. New York won’t make any final announcement on the matter until after the season has wrapped up, however, and team decision-makers are expected to discuss the manager’s future into early next week. Callaway himself campaigned a bit for his job prior to last night’s loss, per Mike Puma of the New York Post, telling the Mets beat: “I think a manager’s job is to get guys going in a direction and I think these guys never wavered from that, so I am definitely proud about that. … I understand the rigors of the job and I try to deal with it the best I can and try to stay even-keeled for the organization’s sake and for our players’ sake.”
  • There’s been speculation that Bruce Bochy could pursue other managerial jobs once he steps away from the Giants — some from his own players, even — and the future Hall of Famer discussed that speculation with John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle this week. While Bochy doesn’t have any immediate plans to seek out other opportunities, he conceded that there’s no telling what the future holds. “Later on, when you get away from the game, who knows how you’ll react?” Bochy asked rhetorically. “I’m good with my call. I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s been tough here at the end of the season realizing it’s ending. No, I’m fine with it. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen in the future because I don’t know.”
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    Mets To Designate Rico Garcia For Assignment

    Angels Release LaMonte Wade Jr.

    Nicky Lopez Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With Yankees

    Red Sox Transfer Luis Guerrero To 60-Day IL, Reinstate Nick Burdi

    Orioles Claim Ryan Noda Off Waivers

    Royals Designate Thomas Hatch For Assignment

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