The Baltimore Orioles’ search for their next manager has taken on a dramatic new twist, as legendary slugger Albert Pujols emerges as a leading candidate for the job. What seemed like a foregone conclusion that Pujols would land with the Los Angeles Angels—his longtime home as a player and special assistant—has become a genuine free-agent battle, with the Orioles making a compelling case built on trust, familiarity, and a clubhouse culture tailored to Pujols’ sensibilities.
Multiple sources confirm that the Orioles are actively pursuing Pujols as their new skipper following the dismissal of Brandon Hyde earlier in the 2025 season. According to ESPN and other outlets, Baltimore has yet to conduct a formal interview with Pujols but is expected to do so soon. The competition is fierce: not only are the Angels in the mix, but the San Diego Padres and several other MLB teams with managerial vacancies—including the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals—are also monitoring the situation.
What makes Baltimore’s pitch unique isn’t just their surging young core or the promise of an AL East stage—it’s the deep connections that tie Pujols to the Orioles’ present and future. The club’s president of baseball operations, Mike Elias, was a Cardinals scout during Pujols’ heyday in St. Louis. Even more intriguing, Matt Holliday, who played alongside Pujols from 2009 to 2011, is the father of Orioles’ rising star Jackson Holliday. This web of relationships offers Pujols a sense of belonging and trust that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
The Orioles’ approach is rooted in more than nostalgia. As reported by Field Level Media, "Threads between Pujols and the Orioles include Mike Elias, the team's president of baseball operations who was a Cardinals scout when Pujols was a star in St. Louis. Former teammate Matt Holliday is the father of one of Baltimore's top young players, 21-year-old infielder Jackson Holliday." This isn’t just a front office selling a job; it’s a franchise offering a culture and environment that already speaks Pujols’ baseball language.
After firing Brandon Hyde on May 17, 2025, following a 15-28 start, the Orioles turned to interim manager Tony Mansolino, who guided the team to a 60-59 finish and is still in the running for the full-time role. However, Baltimore has cast a wide net, interviewing candidates like former Mets manager and current Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas and Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryah Flaherty. They haven’t ruled out bringing back Mansolino, but the allure of Pujols’ Hall of Fame pedigree is hard to ignore.
The Orioles’ young core is a major selling point. With Jackson Holliday, Adley Rutschman, and Gunnar Henderson forming the nucleus of a promising lineup, the team is poised for a winning timeline. The 2023 season saw Baltimore capture the AL East with 101 wins, followed by a 91-win campaign and another playoff appearance in 2024. But 2025 brought turbulence: offensive inconsistencies led to a disappointing 5-8 start, with the team averaging 8.4 runs per game in wins and just 1.6 in losses. Injuries to the pitching staff exacerbated the struggles, though the return of Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells is expected to bolster the rotation.
Pujols’ potential impact as a manager is a hot topic among analysts. The three-time MVP retired in 2022 after a 22-year career, boasting a .296 batting average, .374 on-base percentage, .918 OPS, and 703 home runs. His near 1:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio and 3,384 career hits speak to his disciplined approach at the plate—traits that could prove invaluable in guiding Baltimore’s young hitters. As Just Baseball asked on May 7, 2025, "What can Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman do to help turn things around?" Pujols’ influence could be the key to unlocking their potential.
Yet, there’s an elephant in the room: Pujols is a first-time MLB manager. While he managed the Dominican winter league team Leones del Escogido to a title in January 2025 and is set to helm the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he lacks the extensive dugout experience of some rivals. Still, as Jon Heyman noted during an October 16, 2025, Bleacher Report live stream, "He certainly has managerial experience. Not as much as some of the others, but he's gonna get a job." The Orioles’ willingness to take a chance on a rookie manager reflects a broader MLB trend of hiring former players for leadership roles—a list that now includes Alex Cora, Aaron Boone, Stephen Vogt, and Craig Counsell.
The Angels, meanwhile, are pitching comfort and continuity. Pujols spent a decade in Anaheim, knows the clubhouse, and even rejoined as a special assistant after hanging up his cleats. General manager Perry Minasian reportedly met with Pujols in St. Louis last week, underscoring the depth of their pursuit. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, "The Orioles are interested [in Pujols], as well. That's probably the bigger delay in the Angels' hiring process than anything. Pujols is [the Angels] number one choice, at least that's my understanding. I think that's the likely scenario. We don't know who the Orioles' number one choice is, we've seen five or six names already connected there. They may take longer."
So, what’s at stake for Baltimore? The Orioles are selling more than just a managerial vacancy—they’re offering a chance to shape a contender, mentor a dynamic young roster, and build on a foundation of trust and shared history. The club’s elite farm system has already graduated into a playoff-caliber core, and a front office aligned on player development sets the stage for sustainable success. For Pujols, the decision may come down to environment and impact versus comfort and familiarity.
Of course, the Orioles aren’t the only team in the market. The San Diego Padres have also expressed interest in Pujols, and the managerial carousel is spinning fast as several franchises look to reset their leadership. Baltimore’s challenge is to convince Pujols that Camden Yards, not Anaheim or San Diego, is the place where he can leave his mark as a manager.
For now, the Orioles’ pursuit of Albert Pujols remains one of the most intriguing storylines of the MLB offseason. With formal interviews expected soon and rival teams circling, the race is wide open. Will Baltimore’s unique blend of trust, youth, and shared history be enough to lure a Hall of Famer to the dugout? The coming weeks promise plenty of drama as the Orioles make their pitch—and Pujols weighs his next chapter in baseball.
