Orioles just entered a wild bidding war with the Angels for a future Hall of Famer

The Baltimore Orioles have yet to hire a new manager, but may have just entered a bidding war with the Los Angeles Angels as they look to fill the vacancy left by former skipper Brandon Hyde. According to ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Orioles are expected to interview three-time National League MVP and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols for the team's managerial opening.

Passan cites Orioles President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias' familiarity with Pujols from his time in the St. Louis Cardinals scouting department as a reason for Baltimore's sudden pursuit of the 11-time All-Star.

The O's have yet to set up a formal interview with Pujols, but if they truly intend to make this bold hire, Elias and Co. need to act quickly. Pujols has already drawn interest from his former team, the Angels, and is said to be LA's top candidate to replace Ron Washington in Anaheim.

Orioles just entered a wild bidding war for a future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols

After a long and storied career that spanned 22 seasons in the major leagues, Pujols hung up his cleats in 2022. Since retiring, he's taken on a number of different ventures, including broadcasting and acting as a special assistant to his former club, the St. Louis Cardinals. He's also been named a global ambassador for Baseball United, an organization that promotes the game in South Asia and the Middle East.

Pujols does, however, have some managerial experience as well. He took over as the skipper of Leones del Escogido, a professional team that plays in his native Dominican Republic. His team took home the 2025 Caribbean Series championship earlier this year.

Pujols certainly has the name recognition and a Major League résumé to boot, but one has to question whether or not he'd actually be a good manager. His relatability with the players would be undeniable, though some critics might doubt approach to the Xs and Os of the game.

The O's have other candidates for the job, including last year's interim manager, Tony Mansolino. Chicago Cubs' bench coach Ryan Flaherty had been dubbed the favorite heading into this week, but that could all change if Pujols can impress Elias and the Orioles' front office during his impending interview.