Three teams landed new managers on Monday, but there’s still plenty more to be done on that front around baseball. The Angels continue to search for a new dugout leader after declining an option on Phil Nevin at the start of the offseason.
It seems that search could be nearing its conclusion. Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweeted this morning the Halos could finalize a new hire by the end of the week. Jon Heyman of the New York Post listed a handful of candidates for the position (on X): Buck Showalter, Ron Washington, Gary DiSarcina, Benji Gil and Ray Montgomery. That isn’t necessarily an exhaustive list, as Heyman leaves open the possibility for another candidate to emerge.
Whether all five of those people have already interviewed with Halos brass is unclear. Showalter has been perhaps the most frequently mentioned candidate for the job. Gil and Montgomery make for natural candidates since they’re already on staff — the former as infield coach, the latter as bench coach.
DiSarcina also has myriad ties to the organization. He played for the Halos for the entirety of his 12-year playing career, earning an All-Star selection in 1995. He spent time in the front office at the beginning of the 2010s and logged three seasons on Mike Scioscia’s coaching staff. DiSarcina spent the last two seasons on Dave Martinez’s staff in Washington as third base coach. The Nationals announced last month that he would not return.
Ron Washington has spent seven seasons with the Braves as third base coach. The former Ranger skipper has come up in various managerial searches in recent years but hasn’t gotten a job since resigning from Texas at the end of the 2014 season. Washington led Texas to consecutive pennants in 2010-11 amidst a nearly eight-year run in Arlington.
Recent reports have named former Angels players Darin Erstad and Torii Hunter as potential options. Heyman confirms the Angels have spoken with Hunter but casts doubt on the fit, noting that owner Arte Moreno appears to prefer someone with prior MLB managerial experience. That could give the upper hand to Showalter or Washington, although it’s tough to pinpoint a specific favorite.
unpaidobserver
Gonna be Showalter I believe.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
No, the Dark Horse…. the Rally Minkey
unpaidobserver
Good with the players for sure but I dont know about his grasp of statistics.
LaBellaVita
Irrelevant. It is the Angels.
‘61AngelFan
The Rangers were smart with Bochy.
An old-timer, with a good intuitive sense of the game, along with a respect for analytics.
Is that Showalter?
Maybe drop the old-timer and the 2Ms may be on to something with Discarcina.
dh4all
Yes. Better than DiSarcina or Wash. But, I would love to see Gil get the job.
GareBear
Knowing the Angels, they will find a way to bring in Mickey Callahan
James Midway
Well if Heyman says it hahahahaha
Dogbone
Rehire Maddon!!
Buzzz Killington
The Angels SUCK!!!
James Midway
That’s not nice
BaseballisLife
Its not untrue either
steelerbravenation
Hope Wash isn’t leaving players love him
sweetg
Rom Washington must really want to manage one last time. Otherwise why he even be interested. in going to this trainwreck of a team. All you need to know No else is talking to anyone on the angels list.
i like al conin
The Padres are talking to Benji Gil.
angels fan for life
It going to be Ron Washington
unpaidobserver
“Tell em, Wash”
User 2976510776
If you go with Washington you know the defense is going to improve and he’s going to be hands on and bring a lot of enthusiasm. Gil is the only one who is on another team’s shortlist (Padres) who seems like a good fit. DiSarcina could be interesting he seems to also bring some enthusiasm and has Angel ties. Showalter has zero Angel ties and judging by his MLB work he’s not a bundle of energy guy. Montgomery seems like he’s one of those “highly regarded among front offices” types that I don’t know much about but those guys who front offices love seem iffy
unpaidobserver
“Pickin machine”
DGHalos714
It’s an important decision for the Halos. Need a leader who isn’t a puppet like other front offices. A former player or option that doesn’t have big league experience seems like more upside than previous managers that haven’t delivered or done well recently makes the more sense. Either way as long as Arte is the owner we all know they won’t be able to make real decisions. Tough fork in the road for the Halos. Something has to give and get better soon or else trade Trout and just start a full rebuild.
Tshapi
I think they should hire a team manager and an assistant team manager. This way the assistant can learn from the veteran and continue the winning legacy and culture. Let’s face it. Buck showalter and Ron Washington can retire any year now.
HatlessPete
Buck, don’t do this to yourself my dude. Frying pan to fire.
Halo11Fan
The Angels have lost important positions in their staff. They were not very good, but they were important.
The Angels are not going to hire someone who doesn’t know how to build a coaching staff. It’s going to be Showalter.
Tshapi
As someone else pointed out, while showalter was a favorite in the last manger hunt. If he was the odds on favorite this time why isn’t already employed? Why are they looking at other management candidates? I think it will be Ron Washington. He is currently with a good team, he has 2 pennants to his name. Coaching staff is fleeing the angels because they see what’s coming, a coaching staff rebuild.
Halo11Fan
Because Arte was going to sell the team, and a new owner was likely going to bring in his own people.
KENNETH A LICHTIG
Bring back Mike Scoscia Total Games 3078 Won 1650 Lost 1428 Pct .536
AngelsFan1972
If it was going to be Showalter, they would have already hired him.
The “others” are fleeing because they know that whoever is hired will want to bring on their own staff.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Washington. He would more than likely bring with him some experienced coaches.
If they go the Ex-Player route, I hope they bring in a strong bench coach, someone like Ron Roenicke.