LA Angels Monday News Crash: Prospects

The Angels will now turn their attention toward other candidates. Another former Angel, Torii Hunter, remains a candidate, though he is not considered a slam dunk.

The team has also wanted to speak with ex-managers like Brandon Hyde and Rocco Baldelli, though it is unclear if there is any mutual interest. Another former Angels player, Kurt Suzuki, is also in the mix. Suzuki, like Hunter, currently works as a special assistant to Angels GM Perry Minasian.
It was just 11 days ago that Pujols met with Minasian in St. Louis to discuss the job. The conversation went well, sources said, and strong momentum had been building toward a contract. At the time, he was the only candidate receiving serious consideration.
It’s unclear exactly what both sides’ expectations were to get a deal done. The Angels are still on the hook to pay Pujols $7 million over the next seven years as part of the personal services contract he signed with the club.
Pujols signed that post-retirement contract as an add-on to the 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels in 2012. Pujols played 10 seasons for the Angels before being released in May of 2021.