The Los Angeles Angels are in search of a new manager after dismissing Phil Nevin at the end of 2023 season, and so far have been linked to several intriguing names.
Among them is Buck Showalter, who has managed in parts of 22 big league seasons. He most recently served as the skipper of the New York Mets for two seasons, but was let go after the team posted a disappointing 75-87 record this year.
The Angels are believed to be looking for a veteran presence to lead their young roster, and Showalter certainly fits the bill. He has experience managing rebuilding teams, as well as teams ready to contend for a World Series.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Showalter is considered among the favorites to land the Angels’ managerial job:
Buck Showalter is squarely in the mix for the Angels’ managing job. He finished second to Joe Maddon a few years back and may be a favorite this time.
If Showalter gets the Angels’ job it’ll be his record-tying sixth managing job.
As Heyman noted, Showalter has managed five teams throughout his career. In addition to the Mets, he was the skipper of the New York Yankees (1992-1995), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-2000), Texas Rangers (2003-2006) and Baltimore Orioles (2010-2018).
Along with Showalter, other known candidates for the Angels’ managerial opening are former team stars Darin Erstad, Torii Hunter and Tim Salmon.
Erstad most recently served as the head coach of the University of Nebraska baseball team from 2011-2019. Salmon has been the head baseball coach at Scottsdale Christian Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, since 2015, and Hunter has no previous coaching experience.
Angels expected to hire new manager shortly after World Series
With the Texas Rangers winning the World Series on Wednesday night, the Angels could announce their new manager at any moment.
The team wants to take care of this piece of business as soon as possible so they can focus on Shohei Ohtani’s free agency and determine what direction to take this offseason.