Former MLB catcher Kurt Suzuki has been named the new manager of the Los Angeles Angels.
Suzuki becomes the sixth manager for the team since Mike Scioscia stepped down after the 2018 season after 19 years at the helm. Since 2019, the Angels have been managed by Brad Ausmus, Joe Maddon, Phil Nevin, Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery. Sadly, Washington had a heart procedure during the 2024 season which effectively ended his managerial career.
I cannot help but wonder if the Angels have set up Suzuki for failure as he is on a 1-year contract. Of course, Suzuki was not the team's first choice as it sought the services of former Angels slugger Albert Pujols until negotiations broke off. Yet somehow, I cannot imagine that Angels owner Arte Moreno would have only given Pujols a year to turn things around.
Suzuki has his work cut out for him. The Angels have not had a winning record since 2015 and were last in the post-season in 2014. He has very little margin for error.
If Suzuki has anything going for him is that he is an Angels insider. He ended his 16-year MLB career with the Halos playing for them in 2021 and 2022 and joining the front office prior to the 2023 season.
Suzuki drew interest from Buster Posey and the San Francisco Giants who have hired college baseball coach Tony Vitello to be their new manager.
In 2019, Suzuki earned a World Series ring while playing with the Washington Nationals. The Angels will need more than that, but it is somewhere to start.
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