Sep 21, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Angels interim manager Phil Nevin (88) walks back to the dugout during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin needs to have a strong September
Leading into the trade deadline, there was a lot of speculation as to what the Los Angeles Angels were going to do with superstar Shohei Ohtani. Were they going to trade their free agent to be or be buyers?
They chose the latter and it’s looking more and more like a mistake. After keeping Ohtani and acquiring Lucas Giolito from the Chicago White Sox, and Randal Grichuck, and C.J. Cron from the Colorado Rockies, things slowly went downhill. Mike Trout was returning from an injury and things were looking up until disaster struck for Phil Nevin and his team. Tuesday, L.A. placed Giolito, Grichuk, Reynaldo Lopez, Matt Moore, and Hunter Renfroe on waivers and that’s not a good sign for Nevin.
Trout’s return didn’t last long and the Angels fell quickly out of Wild Card contention and now are playing out the string. What happens over the offseason with Ohtani will be fascinating, but you have to think that another season of no playoff baseball and a huge August collapse in one of the biggest last months of the franchise in a long time won’t sit well upstairs. Nevin is not to blame for everything, but he’s not clear of all the blame. Usually, that’s when the manager takes the fall.
There is a lot to watch for in September. Not only are the postseason races worth watching but so are these four teams who could be playing for their manager’s job. Not a position that you want to be in this time of year. Being a manager in the majors is not an easy job.