The Los Angeles Angels have commenced the interview process for their vacant managerial position, and one of the candidates is Ron Washington, the Atlanta Braves’ third base coach and former Texas Rangers skipper. This information comes from an insider who spoke with The Athletic’s Sam Blum.
The interview with Washington, who is 71 years old, is scheduled for Tuesday night, as reported by Blum. Washington stepped down from his managerial role with the Texas Rangers in 2014 due to personal reasons. He was a finalist for the Braves’ managerial position in 2017 but lost out to Brian Snitker.
Washington has a rich history in baseball, having played, coached, and managed over the years. During his eight-year tenure as the Rangers’ skipper, he achieved a record of 664 wins and 611 losses. He led the Rangers to five winning seasons, four 90-win campaigns, and two division titles. Additionally, he guided the team to their first two AL pennants in 2010 and 2011.
Beyond his managerial career, Washington spent 13 seasons with the Oakland Athletics, further cementing his presence in the sport. For the last seven years, he has been part of Brian Snitker’s coaching staff in Atlanta. Interestingly, the Angels’ general manager, Perry Minasian, was part of the Braves’ front office when they brought Washington on board.
The Angels are on the hunt for a new manager after parting ways with Phil Nevin following the conclusion of the season. The new appointment will be the fourth manager for the franchise in the last six seasons, following 18 years of managerial stability under Mike Scioscia.
Buck Showalter, former manager of the New York Mets, is reportedly another contender for the Angels’ managerial role. Additional candidates include former Angels players Gary DiSarcina and Benji Gil, according to a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Minasian has indicated that the Angels place a premium on experience and leadership in their managerial search. He emphasized the importance of finding someone who can command a room, saying, “When they speak, people listen. That’s something that we’re trying to identify.”