Maddon interviews with Angels (source)
The Angels interviewed Joe Maddon for their vacant managerial position on Monday, and he’s one of four candidates who will interview this week, according to a Major League source. The Angels have not made any official announcements about their managerial search, but the process is expected to last through at least this week once all four candidates are interviewed.
Maddon, who spent 31 years with the organization before he became manager of the Rays in 2006, remains the heavy favorite to become the next Angels manager after Brad Ausmus was dismissed one day after the end of the regular season. Maddon is expected to have other suitors, including the Padres, but the Angels are his top choice, according to report from MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.
Maddon, 65, served two stints as interim manager of the Angels in 1996 and 1999 before managing the Rays from 2006-14 and the Cubs from 2015-19. He led the Rays to two division titles (2008, '10) and a World Series appearance (2008), then won two division titles (2016, '17) 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 92 wins before they went 84-78 this year.
The Angels are coming off a season that saw them lose 90 games for the first time since 1999, which was the year before longtime manager Mike Scioscia took over. Maddon was bench coach before Scioscia arrived and remained in that role from 2000-05, which included the franchise’s only World Series title in 2002. Maddon also reportedly still has a home in nearby Long Beach.
Maddon would bring instant cache 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 will remain with the Angels through 2030 after signing a 12-year, $426.5 million deal before the 2019 season.
Having Trout and two-way star Shohei Ohtani on the roster is enticing for a new manager, but the Angels will need to be aggressive this winter to improve their pitching staff. Their starters finished with the second-worst ERA (5.64) in the Majors, ahead of only the Rockies, so acquiring pitching will be a priority. Astros ace Gerrit Cole, an Orange County native, is expected to be the club’s top target in free agency.