Brian Butterfield joined the Los Angeles Angels staff prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season to be the third base coach. The Angels have been looking to find a more permanent replacement for Dino Ebel, who was with the team from 2006-2018, nine of those years at third base.
After one season with Mike Gallego, they looked to Butterfield, who has had a very successful career coaching with several MLB teams.
Now, they’ll start their search again, as they have reportedly parted ways with Butterfield after just two seasons, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
Angels let go 3B coach Brian Butterfield. Butterfield, who previously coached for the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Cubs, was an elite infield coach who helped Derek Jeter learn to play shortstop after starting out error-prone in minors.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 18, 2021
This is the second coaching decision the Angels have made in recent days, as they reportedly let go of Jose Molina as catching coach late last week. It was hinted then that the Angels may be looking to overhaul their staff.
After a disappointing 2021 season, it’s not a surprise to see the team making changes. Coaching is often the first thing to change when a team is looking for a fresh start, and that is unfortunately the case here. Molina and Butterfield were clearly well-respected within the team and throughout the league, but the Halos felt it was time to go a different direction.
Since nothing has been made official yet, there has been no word on potential replacement candidates. Perhaps once the postseason ends, there will be more on that front as more assistant coaches become available to interview.
Perry Minasian: No one is untouchable in trade talks
It appears that general manager Perry Minasian has no problem undergoing a complete overhaul if need be. Not just with his coaching staff, but his players as well. When asked about untouchable players in a trade, Minasian said that no one should be considered in that way, as the team will do whatever it has to in order to improve.
