As the Los Angeles Angels face the prospect of wasting the entirety of Mike Trout's career, and the strong likelihood of losing Shohei Ohtani this offseason, they are also looking for a new manager after firing Phil Nevin.
It's fair to say the Angels should leave no stone unturned in their search for a new manager, and be open to just about anyone who could be a viable candidate.
After leaving the New York Mets, however it was officially framed, Buck Showalter seeming threw his hat immediately into the ring for the Angels' job (que the dueling Spider-Man GIF). That the Angels didn't just hire him quickly, now nearly a month after that news surfaced, points to having an extensive search for a new manager.
In a notes column this past week, Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY passed along some intel about the Angels' managerial search.
"Torii Hunter, the five-time All Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner, has emerged as a candidate to fill the Los Angeles Angels’ managerial vacancy. Hunter spent five years playing for the Angels and is tremendously regarded by owner Arte Moreno for his leadership and baseball acumen."
"The Angels also have discussed other former players such as Darin Erstad and Tim Salmon."
"Former Red Sox and Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, a long-time Angels coach under Mike Scioscia, along with Angels coach Benji Gil and former Mets manager Buck Showalter may also get formal interviews. "
Los Angeles Angels are casting a wide net in their search for a new manager
The mention of Showalter possibly getting a formal interview isn't surprising. Ron Roenicke probably shouldn't surprise anyone as a possible candidate either. Benji Gil is a former major league player, including some years with the Angels, who is currently the Angels' infield coach.
But, per Nightengale, the Angels' managerial search includes some higher-profile former players who spent at least part of their career with the Angels.
Erstad and Salmon were on the Angels' 2002 World Series championship team. Salmon is an Angels' analyst for Bally Sports West, with no previous formal coaching experience. Erstad moved into coaching after his career was over, eventually serving as head coach at Nebraska (his alma mater) from 2012-2019.
Hunter spent five seasons of his playing career with the Angels (2008-2012), earning two All-Star selections and two Gold Gloves over that time. He has no formal coaching experience, but for whatever it's worth he "liked" a post noting job openings the Angels have.
— Beyond The Halo (@BeyondTheHalo) October 29, 2023
Whoever the Angels hire as their next manager will face the difficult task of getting things on a good, and ideally sustainable, track. Maybe a former player who has roots with the team, even one with no prior coaching experience, will be the answer.