The Angels aren’t the only team vying for Albert Pujols’ managerial services. Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the Orioles are expected to interview Pujols for their opening. Baltimore fired Brandon Hyde in May of this past season. Tony Mansolino took over on an interim basis, and he remains in the mix for the full-time gig.
The ESPN story comes less than a week after reports of Pujols closing in on the Los Angeles job. The Hall of Fame first baseman was regarded as the frontrunner for the position at the beginning of October, and follow-up stories have supported that notion, though there’s been no report of an official offer from the Angels. Gonzalez and Passan noted that Los Angeles is still the most likely landing spot for Pujols.
Baltimore dismissed Hyde after a 15-28 start. The team entered the season with plenty of fanfare after two consecutive postseason appearances, but fell well short of expectations. The Orioles did improve to 60-59 under Mansolino. Hyde had elevated the team from the basement of the American League to a contender in the challenging NL East. He earned AL Manager of the Year honors in 2023 after bringing home the club’s first division title since 2014.
Despite the poor 2025 campaign, there’s a lot to like about the Orioles’ outlook. The team is loaded with proven young talent, including Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Adley Rutschman, and Jordan Westburg. Fellow youngsters Colton Cowser, Samuel Basallo, and Coby Mayo have shown flashes in limited action. The pitching staff is a question mark, but Trevor Rogers broke out as an ace, and Kyle Bradish has shown considerable upside when healthy. The team should also have the flexibility to add in free agency. FanGraphs’ RosterResource tool estimates Baltimore’s payroll to be around $81MM for next season. That’s about half the amount they spent in 2025.
In addition to the enticing roster, a couple of St. Louis connections could make Baltimore a desirable landing spot for Pujols. As Gonzalez and Passan point out, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias was a scout for the Cardinals during Pujols’ playing days. Pujols is still close to Cardinals teammate Matt Holliday, the father of Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday.
If Pujols does land a job with an MLB team, it’ll be his first in affiliated ball. He managed Leones del Escogido, a Dominican winter ball team, last offseason. Pujols has been tabbed to lead the Dominican Republic national team in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, though that would likely change if he earns a major-league position.
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