Angels to introduce Maddon as skipper Thursday

ANAHEIM -- The Angels got their man, as they hired veteran Joe Maddon to be their next manager, reportedly on a three-year contract. The club will officially introduce Maddon as its next skipper at an Angel Stadium news conference on Thursday at noon PT.

The hiring marks a homecoming for Maddon, who spent 31 years in the organization, including stints as interim manager of the Angels in 1996 and ’99. He was also bench coach under Mike Scioscia in 2002 when the organization won its lone World Series title.

“We are thrilled that Joe is coming back home and bringing an exciting brand of baseball to our fans,” general manager Billy Eppler said. “Every stop he has made throughout his managerial career, he has built a culture that is focused on winning while also allowing his players to thrive. We believe Joe will be a great asset for our club and look forward to him leading the team to another World Series championship.”

Maddon, who was considered the favorite as soon as the Angels dismissed Brad Ausmus a day after the regular season, won the job over candidates Buck Showalter, John Farrell and Johnny Washington. The four candidates were all interviewed last week. The Angels said they will hold an introductory news conference with Maddon next week.

“I could not be more excited to come back home and manage this great organization,” Maddon said. “I’d like to thank Arte Moreno, Billy Eppler and John Carpino for giving me the opportunity to add another chapter to my Angels career. I was lucky enough to be a part of the first Angels team to win a World Series title and I look forward to the opportunity to bring Angel fans their second championship.”

The 65-year-old Maddon was the highest-profile managerial candidate available. He left the Angels to manage the Rays from 2006-2014 and the Cubs from 2015-19. He led the Rays to two division titles and a World Series appearance in 2008 while winning two division titles and the 2016 World Series with the Cubs. Maddon, who has a career record of 1,252-1,068 in 16 seasons as a manager, led the Cubs to four straight seasons with at least 90 wins before they went 84-78 this year.

He said after the season that he intended to manage again in 2020 and was looking for the right fit. It worked out perfectly for the Angels and Maddon, as they were both each other’s first choice.

"The biggest thing is, for me, where you're wanted," Maddon said at the time. "And then, of course, with that there's normally going to be a good fit to follow, something like that. When two parties are eager to get together and you've got this nice union, and that's what's necessary to really make something survive and prosper."

The Angels are coming off a season in which they lost 90 games for the first time since 1999, which was the year before Scioscia became manager. Maddon was the Angels' bench coach before Scioscia arrived and remained in that role from 2000-05. Maddon reportedly has a home in nearby Long Beach.

Maddon brings instant cachet to an organization that hasn’t been to the postseason since 2014 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2009 despite Mike Trout being the best all-around player in baseball since his rookie season in 2012. Trout is under contract with the Angels through 2030 after signing a 12-year, $426.5 million deal before the 2019 season.

The Angels dismissed Ausmus after the team went 72-90 and finished fourth in the American League West this year in his first season in Anaheim and will be paid for the final two years of his deal after signing a three-year contract.