Angels’ misstep may have just solved Orioles’ biggest offseason question

Since the 2025 regular season came to a close, the Los Angeles Angels had been targeting Albert Pujols to replace Ron Washington as the team's manager. Pujols spent nearly half his Major League career in Anaheim and felt like a shoo-in for the vacancy in the Halos' dugout.

But according to MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Pujols and the Angels have ended discussions, and the future Hall of Famer will not be headed back to LA. This, of course, opens the door for the Baltimore Orioles to swoop in and hire Pujols to be their next manager.

It's been revealed that Pujols is still in the mix for both the O's and the San Diego Padres managerial vacancies. The Padres, who parted ways with Mike Shildt this past week, are also eyeballing several candidates to take over as their next skipper.

Angels failed to hire Albert Pujols and may have just solved the Orioles’ biggest offseason question

The Orioles have had a vacancy ever since they fired Brandon Hyde a few months into the 2025 season. Though Tony Mansolino took over on an interim basis — and is said to be in the mix to take over permanently — Baltimore has cast a wide net this offseason.

Orioles President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias needs to make this hire count. The O's fell woefully short of expectations this past season, and the front office and ownership are hopeful to find a manager who can lead Baltimore back to the MLB playoffs in 2026.

Whether or not Pujols is that man has yet to be determined, but he was linked to the Orioles just last week. Though he doesn't have a considerable résumé to draw upon as a manager, there's no doubt that Pujols was one of the five best players to suit up during his era. Pujols was a three-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger Award-winner, and two-time World Series champion.

The San Francisco Giants are said to be targeting University of Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello as their next skipper, so Pujols wouldn't be the wildest managerial choice this offseason. That said, his name is far and away the most recognizable, and hiring Pujols would represent a seismic shift for the Orioles moving forward.