The Los Angeles Angels are hiring Kurt Suzuki as their next manager, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.
Suzuki, 42, has spent the past three seasons as a special assistant to Los Angeles general manager Perry Minasian. He finished his 16-year playing career by spending his final two seasons as a catcher with the Angels.
Future surefire Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Albert Pujols reportedly met with Minasian in St. Louis earlier this month for “preliminary discussions,” but the two sides could not come to an agreement on length or amount of a potential contract, according to The Athletic.
The New York Post reported that talks broke down due to differences regarding “coaches, resources, and compensation.”
Los Angeles declined the option on former manager Ron Washington’s contract for 2026. The team also said it was beginning the process of hiring a new manager “immediately,” marking the end of Ray Montgomery’s interim stint.
The Angels (72-90) finished last in the American League West for the second straight season, 18 games behind the division champion Seattle Mariners.
Suzuki batted .255 with 143 homers and 730 RBIs in 1,635 career games. He won a World Series ring as a member of the Washington Nationals in 2019.
He played collegiately at Cal State Fullerton, just six miles north of Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
