Angels tab Kurt Suzuki as next manager

The Los Angeles Angels hired former catcher Kurt Suzuki as their next manager on Tuesday.

Suzuki, 42, 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 with the Angels from 2021-22.

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 with Pujols broke down due to differences regarding "coaches, resources, and compensation."

Los Angeles declined the option on former manager Ron Washington's contract for 2026. Interim manager Ray Montgomery took over as acting manager on June 20 after Washington stepped away for health reasons.

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 with five teams. He won a World Series ring as a member of the Washington Nationals in 2019.

He played collegiately at Cal State Fullerton, just a few miles north of Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

--Field Level Media