With the 2023 campaign having just ended, a waltz of managers is expected in the coming weeks.
Starting with the Los Angeles Angels position left vacant by the departure of Phil Nevin, who saw his option declined by his team. The latter clearly did not get the job done under the hot California sun, as evidenced by their record of 73 wins against 89 losses last season and the fact that the club missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive year .
And it seems that the old skipper New York Mets Buck Showalter tops the list to become the Angels’ fourth manager since Mike Scioscia resigned after the 2018 season.
If the 67-year-old gets the job, it would be his sixth destination, equaling the record of Jimmy Dykes who also managed six teams. For their part, Billy Martin, Davey Johnson, Joe Torre, and Lou Piniella are among the many managers who have done so with five teams.
Showalter was named manager of the year four times and has 1,727 victories in 22 seasons at the helm of a major league baseball team.
The old fox won’t be alone in the race in Los Angeles, however, as Angels bench coach Benji Gil is also listed as a candidate, as are former club stars Torii Hunter, Darin Erstad and Tim Salmon, as well as Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dino Ebel.
Elsewhere across the MLB, Ryan Flaherty and Mike Shildt are reportedly the favorites for the job with the San Diego Padres, while Joe Espada and Omar Lopez are said to have a head start with the Houston Astros.
