The managerial chair in Anaheim was the center of MLB’s rumor mill. Now that Ron Washington is officially leaving, the whispers are getting louder about who’s next. All eyes are on a slugger who owns 700 home runs and 3,000 hits—Albert Pujols. Currently managing the Dominican Republic national team, this raises a question: Will he leave that commitment for his former team? Especially when a voice just days ago insisted he wouldn’t.

Albert Pujols played for the Angels for 11 seasons, from 2012 to 2021. Nearly a decade with the team has established deep roots. Now that Washington has left due to health issues, the talk about Pujols’s management has gone from whispers to real possibilities. The team that once put a lot of money on him as a player is now thinking about having him lead them from the dugout.

The speculation turned concrete when MLB Fox Sport delivered the news on X. “Albert Pujols could be returning to the Angels dugout, but as their manager per @Ken_Rosenthal.”  The report positions Pujols as a serious candidate to take control of a franchise desperate for stability and direction.

This development creates a sharp contrast with recent comments from Dominican broadcaster Juan Nuneez, who just days ago dismissed these rumors entirely.

“That’s speculation. Anyone who knows Pujols knows that when he makes a commitment, he doesn’t let go of it until it’s finished,” Nunez stated. He emphasized Pujols’ dedication to the Dominican Republic national team and winter league responsibilities. “We know that Albert Pujols wants to be a manager in MLB, but he is a very committed guy and we know that he is going to stay with us.” But the broadcaster’s confidence now faces a reality check.

Yet the Angels’ track record highlights why Albert Pujols might be tempted.

The clubhouse has gone through five managers since the end of 2018, which shows organizational instability. Despite having generational talents like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani (who left as a free agent after 2023), the team hasn’t reached the postseason since 2014.

And this season, they also had a hard time, finishing with a 72-90 record and coming in fifth in the AL West for the second year in a row. Angels owner Arte Moreno, who initially signed Pujols to a ten-year, $240 million contract in 2012, would be betting on their shared history to bring stability to his struggling franchise. The move would represent Moreno’s attempt to recapture the optimism of that 2012 signing—this time from the dugout rather than the batter’s box.

Yet Pujols brings more to the table than just his playing legacy. He himself has expressed his desire to be a manager in the major league. And voices from within baseball have publicly endorsed his readiness, building a compelling case for his candidacy.

Organizational readiness, Angels poised for a new chapter

Albert Pujols has been quite clear for a long time that he is ready to manage at the highest level. “I’ve always held on to that desire, and if the opportunity is right … I want to have the opportunity to be a manager here in the big leagues.” His achievement in leading Leones del Escogido to the Caribbean Series title in 2025 and his forthcoming duty as coach of the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic make him even more qualified.

That faith in his readiness isn’t just confidence. Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who managed Pujols for eleven seasons in St. Louis, said publicly, “He’s ready… and he’s going to be great.” Even Mike Trout, who played with Pujols for 10 seasons in Anaheim, agreed.

“I think he’d be a good manager … Just the way he interacts with players … It would be pretty cool to play for him.”

La Russa and Trout together show more than just support. If the Angels take advantage of his experience, the one who knows the core of the clubhouse, they will not only bring back a legend but also invest in someone who has proven themselves, is committed, and is ready to help.