Brad Ausmus was let go as the manager of the Los Angeles Angels, and while there’s speculation Joe Maddon will return, he also has many more suitors to choose from.
Brad Ausmus was ousted as the manager of the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, and there was immediate speculation around who the next Angels manager would be.
So, here’s the chain reaction of events to come for the Angels and how Joe Maddon fits into all of this.
What it means for Angels
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Brad Ausmus had to lead his club through a roller coaster losing season in what was his first year and what ended being his only year in Anaheim.
The worst part was not all of the injuries that included Mike Trout, but the surprising death of Tyler Skaggs.
Skaggs seemed to be just scratching the surface of what he could be, so he was going to be a mainstay in that rotation for years to come so GM Billy Eppler was forced to fill a big hole for not just the remainder of the year but for the rest of the season.
Not to mention, the team lost former ace Garrett Richards to the San Diego Padres in free agency so the next manager will be forced to manage a young rotation, especially if they don’t add Gerrit Cole.
The Ausmus firing was surprising to many but I am sure that Eppler didn’t just get out of bed and say “I think Ausmus should be gone after one year.”
No, he must be very confident that he can land a veteran manager like the 2016 World Series champion.
What it means for Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon was not brought back by the Cubs, which wasn’t a surprise, and as you might think there will be a bidding war for him.
The Angels opening is going to be at the top of his list along with the Padres, who seem to be the most appealing job for him considering he has managed young star-studded teams in the Rays and Cubs before.
Maddon is reportedly interested in the Los Angeles Angels opening and will meet with Angels brass, and “a number of sources believe Maddon to the Angels is likely to happen”, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.