The Los Angeles Angels hired Ron Washington as their new manager Wednesday, deciding to select an experienced and respected coach as the team prepares for the possibility of a significant overhaul if star Shohei Ohtani departs in free agency.
Washington, 71 years-of-age, last managed in 2014, when he resigned from the Texas Rangers, where he enjoyed significant success, including two World Series appearances. over eight seasons.
Despite a 53-87 record in his final campaign, Washington’s record overall is respectable, 664-611.
He joins the Angels from Atlanta, where he spent the past seven seasons as a third-base coach beloved by players and fans alike for his lighthearted personality and old-school techniques. His coaching career got underway with the Oakland Athletics after a 10-year career as a skillful utility player.
Washington, who becomes the oldest manager in baseball, will receive a two-year contract, sources said. He is one of two Black managers in the game, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dave Roberts after Dusty Baker of the Houston Astros retired last month.
He will be the fifth manager in seven years for the Angels, who have not won a playoff game since 2009. Owner Arte Moreno made experience a top priority with the decision after declining the option on first-time manager Phil Nevin’s contract in October, following Nevin’s first full season. Nevin had replaced Joe Maddon in June 2022, when Maddon was relieved of his duties after 2½ years at the helm.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Angels’ direction often depends on the whims of Moreno, whose decision to keep Ohtani at the August 1 trade deadline was as head scratching as any in recent years. The Angels mortgaged some of their best assets to add to a flawed team and then collapsed, leaving their farm system depleted and the major league roster filled with questionable contracts and lacking talent.
Los Angeles was 16 games below .500, 73-89, last season, even with two of the top five players in the sport, finishing behind a Seattle Mariners team with playoff aspirations, a Texas team that captured their first World Series and a Houston team that plans to reload this winter.
The Angels do still have talented players under contract, including three-time MVP Mike Trout, utility man Brandon Drury, center fielder Mickey Moniak and a trio of rookies who showed flashes of brilliance in catcher Logan O’Hoppe, shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel.
The Angels’ pitching staff, however, left a lot to be desired, with a 4.64 ERA (23rd out of 30 major league teams), 4.00 walks per nine innings (28th) and one of the worst bullpens in baseball.
