A new MLB rumor suggests the San Diego Padres have serious interest in making St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols their next manager.
After firing Bob Melvin, the Padres felt advisor Mike Shildt was the man who would help take their talented roster to the promised land in 2024. While he did not get the Pads to the World Series in 2024 or 2025, he did lead them to a pair of playoff births and back-to-back 90-win seasons. It’s why he got a contract extension a year ago.
However, after being ousted in the Wild Card Round by the Chicago Cubs, Shildt stunned the baseball world by deciding to walk away from his role with the team. It put San Diego in a bit of a lurch and added skipper to their to-do list this offseason.
There have been several names linked to the Padres manager job, but an unexpected one emerged on Thursday.
Albert Pujols a contender for San Diego Padres manager job
According to MLB reporter Mike Rodriguez, “the San Diego Padres have called future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols with interest in interviewing him for the team’s manager position.”
After an iconic 12-year run for the Cardinals, Pujols played 10 years in LA for the Angels and has remained with the organization after retiring in 2022. Since joining their front office, he has been in uniform each of the last three springs, and he has also worked with Angels prospects at their academy in the Dominican Republic.
In March, he admitted being open to becoming an MLB manager if “the opportunity was right,” and earlier this month, he was rumored to be an early favorite to be the next manager of the Angels.
