Kurt Suzuki might be the new skipper in town for the Angels, but that doesn’t mean he’s getting a long leash.
In fact, he’s getting a uniquely short one.
Suzuki was officially tapped by Los Angeles on Wednesday to become its next manager, though in a highly unusual move, he’s only getting a one-year contract.
One of the main reasons? General manager Perry Minasian has just one year left on his contract, meaning the two will be viewed together and that their Angels futures will likely be determined on if this season is a success or not. What defines success for a team without a winning season since 2015 remains unclear.
“He’s tied in with me,” Minasian told reporters Wednesday, according to the Orange County Register.
The Athletic’s Sam Blum also noted that it’s possible owner Arte Moreno does not want to pay for a manager in 2027 — when there is a potential labor stoppage looming — if he doesn’t need to.
The move to hire Suzuki comes weeks after the Angels dumped both manager Ron Washington and interim Ray Montgomery after a 72-90 campaign.
The Angels had been in talks with three-time MVP Albert Pujols as their “first choice” to take over the role, but The Post’s Jon Heyman reported this week that talks broke down between the two sides as differences emerged.
Now, they’ll have a former catcher of 16 years — two of which came with the Angels — to lead their team.
Suzuki, who has no big league coaching or managing experience, served as a special assistant to Minasian for the last three years. He has a lofty challenge ahead of him, as the Angels have reached the playoffs since 2014 and have not attained 80 wins in a season since the 2018 campaign.
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