The Los Angeles Angels fired manager Joe Maddon amidst a 12-game losing streak that has seen them go from a first-place squad to a playoff afterthought. The Angels must have had some semblance of urgency, as they likely watched the Philadelphia Phillies fire manager Joe Girardi last week amid their own struggles.
Bench coach Phil Nevin has been named the interim manager for the Angels. While Nevin's fiery personality just might light a fire under the Angels, it's unlikely that he'll stick as the manager past this season, given his lack of experience in the role.
With two of the best players in baseball- and a talented roster behind them, the Angels have the pieces to contend in the American League. Regardless of how the 2022 season plays out, Los Angeles needs to be thinking about who is going to lead this club forward in the future.
Luckily for them, there are a few capable options out there. Here are the three best manager candidates for the Angels with Maddon fired.
3 Best Options For Angels To Replace Joe Maddon
3. David Cone
This would be bold, no doubt about it. Cone, a former World Series-winning pitcher with the New York Yankees, has no managing experience and is currently a broadcaster. However, we've seen managers, such as Aaron Boone of the Yankees, enter the dugout with no prior experience.
Turn on a baseball game that Cone is calling as an analyst and you'll be blown away by his knowledge of the game. He combines the utilization of analytics and numbers with the wisdom that comes with the experience of playing the game.
While he might be better suited for a role as a pitching coach to get his feet wet in the dugout, there's no doubting that Cone has the chops to be a successful coach in the major leagues.
His old-school and new-school approach to the game is the future of baseball managers. The Angels could get ahead of the trend and hire Cone.
2. Ron Washington
If the Angels desire an experienced name- and they should, given the fact that they've now had three different managers since the start of the 2018 season- Ron Washington's name jumps off the page.
Washington, 70, is a former player who spent 10 seasons in the big leagues. He also has a wealth of coaching experience, as he's been an assistant since 1996. As a manager, he compiled a 664-611 career record, including two American League pennants, with the Texas Rangers.
He is currently the bench coach for the Atlanta Braves, though one would have to think he would jump at the chance to manage again. His experience and familiarity with the AL West would certainly catch the Angels' attention. Washington would be a strong candidate for the Angels.
1. Joe Espada
Joe Espada has been a popular managerial candidate in recent seasons. Espada has been a coach since the 2010 season, though it has been his recent experiences as a member of winning dugouts with the Yankees and Houston Astros that have caught the attention of other teams.
Espada has a connection to former Angels general manager Billy Eppler, who was the assistant general manager to Brian Cashman while Espada was with the Yanks.
The bench coach actually interviewed with the Angels after the 2018 season, though the team ultimately went with Brad Ausmus for the job. Espada has been around winning and decision-making for the past few years.
He has a ton of potential as a manager. Will the Angels hire Espada this time around?
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