Report: New team wants to interview Albert Pujols for manager job

Albert Pujols is widely considered the favorite to become the next manager of the Los Angeles Angels, but there is at least one other team that is reportedly looking to make its pitch to the future Hall of Famer.

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan reported on Wednesday that the Baltimore Orioles are expected to interview Pujols for their vacant manager job. While the two sides have yet to meet formally, the Orioles have expressed interest in sitting down with Pujols and will likely do so in the coming days.

Pujols played for the Angels for nine-plus seasons during his career, and he is rumored to be team owner Arte Moreno's first choice. L.A. is not the only place where the 45-year-old has connections, however.

Albert Pujols has ties to the Orioles

As ESPN noted, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias was with the St. Louis Cardinals as a scout when Pujols became one of MLB's biggest stars with the Cards. Pujols was also teammates with Matt Holliday, whose son Jackson Holliday is an up-and-coming star in Baltimore.

The Angels are the only team that has interviewed Pujols thus far, but the Orioles have plenty of young talent. They also won 101 games just two seasons ago and made the playoffs again last year, while the Angels have not been to the postseason in over a decade. An argument could be made that Baltimore is in better shape to win in the near future, and that is something that might appeal to Pujols.

A lack of experience makes Albert Pujols a risk

Pujols' only managerial experience is with Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League. He led the team to a winter league championship in January.

Pujols has also been named the manager of his native Dominican Republic for the World Baseball Classic in 2026, though he likely would not follow through with that commitment if he were hired by an MLB team.

While Pujols would be a risky hire for either the Angels or the Orioles, both franchises need a spark. Pujols ranks fourth all-time with 703 career home runs and is one of the best players in MLB history. It would hardly be a surprise if more than one team felt he was worthy of a shot.