Angels manager Brad Ausmus has only been on the job for a year, but the club “would consider” firing him to hire Joe Maddon after the season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (subscription link). That would require the Cubs to move on from Maddon, whose contract is up, while the Angels would likely need to make the 65-year-old a substantial offer. The first part of that equation looks like a real possibility, but it appears the second would pose a problem. Angels owner Arte Moreno likely doesn’t want to pay two managers, per Rosenthal, who adds it’s very doubtful he’d be willing to match Maddon’s current salary of $6MM. Notably, though, there is quite a bit of history between Maddon and the Angels. He spent 31 years with the organization in a variety of roles before his managerial career began with the Rays prior to the 2006 season.
- Recent speculation has linked longtime Giants executive Brian Sabean to the Marlins, but the 63-year-old told Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that he isn’t going anywhere. Although Sabean’s contract is about to expire, he and the Giants are in talks to keep him in place for what would be his 28th year with the organization in 2020. “We’re in the process of sorting that out as we speak,” Sabean said. “I’m quite sure my Giant career will continue in some form or fashion. I’m not interested in looking to go anywhere else. We’ll see how it develops in the next month or so.” While Sabean was at the helm of the Giants’ baseball department during all three of their World Series wins this decade, he has taken on a lesser role since the team hired Farhan Zaidi to steer the ship last offseason. Sabean spent a large portion of this season scouting, which is his passion, Schulman notes.
- The Diamondbacks have shut right-handers Luke Weaver and Zac Gallen down for the season, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. Weaver sat out all of June, July, August and most of September with forearm and UCL injuries, but he made a successful two-inning return last weekend to cap off his 2019. He and Gallen, whom the D-backs acquired at the trade deadline, figure to slot in near the top of the club’s rotation in 2020. Fellow righty Taijuan Walker could join them if he overcomes the arm problems that have essentially shelved him for two straight seasons. Walker could, however, take the ball for the first and only time of the season in Arizona’s finale on Sunday, Piecoro relays.
- The Athletics just designated catcher Beau Taylor for assignment for the second time this year, but that doesn’t mean his days with the organization are over. On the contrary, chances are “good” that the A’s will try to re-sign Taylor in the offseason, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. Judging by the glowing reviews of Taylor that prized young catcher Sean Murphy and manager Bob Melvin offer in Slusser’s piece, he clearly has the respect of the A’s players and coaches.
Don’t the Angels need more pitching than a new manager?
Why not both?
Before the Angels do anything, they need to figure out a direction and understanding of the game. I had no doubt they would be 20 games out by the end of the year….. but 30+ games out!? Thats an organization that does not care and a team that gives up.
How do you have time to troll every single Angels related post?
Haloshame has let his bitterness overtake him. He needs a hobby.
I think we’re lookin’ at his hobby.
LOL
Yes. They need at least 2 quality starters, and a combo of Bumgarner, Roak, Keuchel, or even a trade for Synderdaard would be ideal. Cole is going to cost too much, and Arte no longer wants to spend big on FA’s
arte moreno really likes maddon. he would have hired him as a manager if not for mike scoscia’s multi-year $10 mil contract.
Wasn’t that for 10 years?
not at the point when maddon became available after he was let go by the rays.
The Rays didn’t let Maddon go, he opted out.
It doesn’t make sense to pay two managers let alone pay one of those two <$6m/yr. I like Maddon and wouldn't be upset if he becomes the next skipper of the Halos but, like others have said, our lack of pitching is the real problem. It's Artes money but I don't know that Maddon is a big difference maker to the on field product.
I’m really curious: what has Maddon done in Chicago that couldn’t be done by most managers in baseball?
He was outstanding in Tampa Bay, but I’m not sure he has the same spark now.
I don’t think Ausmus is a particularly great manager, but he’s not good enough to fire Ausmus.
2015: Maddon benched Castro when they recalled Baez and shifted Russell to SS. I think both parties handled it well as Castro bought into it and made the most of his playing time. Starlin regained some starts by season’s end and in the playoffs.
He’s the quintessential player’s manager.
His meticulous attention to detail, relatability, and game planning make him a top 5 manager in the game today. His teams win a lot of games, which helps too. cubs fans don’t care that much about winning so he’s an easy scapegoat for Epstein’s failed personnel moves.
His handling of pitching staffs almost blew the World Series. He almost personally cost them game 7 alone. Got completely out managed by Francona.
Steven that narrative is without merit. So he got out managed by Francona “completely” you say?
Maddons Cubs were down 3-1 in the WS with 3 games to play where the Cubs had to win all of them including last two on the road, and Maddon lead the Cubs to do that but Francona out managed him?
And by the way Francona used Miller as much as Maddon used Chapman and Miller let up a homer in game 7 too but Francona is a genius and Maddon is not? Sorry the facts so not support your narrative.
Uh, how about Maddon did what 108 years of Cubs managers couldn’t do.
@ mrnatewalter … so you say just any manager would have won the world series as Cubs manager? Though it had not been done in 108 years? Ok if you say so
Maddon is the most overrated manager in MLB.
How do you let that crap about Maddon leak? Now you have Ausmus looking like a lame duck manager if you don’t make the move. You can have Maddon, Ausmus, Andy Green or Jeffrey the giraffe managing the team but it won’t change the SP personnel they have.
The Angels are a laughing stock of the league, lead bye a horrible manager. If Billy Eppler doesn’t at least try to obtain Maddon, Eppler should be fired. Yes men dont get the job done.
neither do fans who think they matter.
As a giants fan I just hope we don’t hire anybody as a player/manager because they’ll start the vets only and not the young guys
Theo dealt the biggest blows to Maddon’s job security when he let Fowler, Chapman and La Stella leave for cheaper alternatives. That left the team with no good contact hitters with speed, and no real closer. Darn shame too, because the Cubs probably win back-to-back championships if Theo didn’t try to get “creative” with a championship roster and just kept everyone together. They should have kept Soler too. cubs gotta cub I guess.
ChiSox its worse. Theo did not let La Stella walk he got rid of him!
If you’ve played baseball thru college or the pros you know a manager establishes a culture and sets boundaries with the players and coaches. You need the veterans to buy into the culture as well as the young phenoms. It’s often a difficult task and can lead to failure. Joe has the ability to establish a successful culture and it’s exactly what the Angel’s need for 2020+.
On behalf of SF Giants fans everywhere, we are not interested in Joe Maddon at all. Best of luck to Joe, perhaps in Chicago (where he’s done a LOT) or San Diego where they could use some help. The Giants are continuously trashed by sports media “experts” for being old but have a great deal of young talent that is the reason why they managed a better won-loss record than teams whom the media tagged as “better”. We will miss Bochy but would rather have Stephen Vogt move from behind the plate to the skipper’s role and keep building up our team.
Mr. Zaidi,
On behalf of a life long Giants fan, it is clearly time to clean house. I feel you did the right thing by keeping enough pieces in place at the trading deadline since we were in striking distance to the wild card spot. The vast majority of fans agree with your decision. However, now that the Bochy send off is finally over, let’s get our sights on next season. Here are players that you need to work your magic and get move out (and yes they are fans favorites), but we want to see a competitive team on the field;
Posey (Keep Vogt and he can mentor Bart).
Crawford (he has no offense and his defense is just average).
Belt (enough said)
Longo (decent year, but not worthy the money)
These players collectively are on the hook for roughly 100 million dollars are they simply are not worth the money. I, and many other fans, hope to see a completely new team on the field minus the above.