Albert Pujols is no longer a candidate for the Los Angeles Angels coaching job, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
Pujols, however, is expected to interview Wednesday for the vacant San Diego Padres managerial position, a source told ESPN. The Baltimore Orioles have also already expressed interest, although no interviews have been scheduled, a source said.
The Padres became one of eight teams searching for a new manager after Mike Shildt announced he would step down from the position, joining the Angels, Orioles, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins.
Pujols, 45, is held in high esteem by the Padres’ two most influential players: Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Pujols is currently a special assistant with the Angels, part of a 10-year contract worth $10 million that was triggered after his retirement in 2022. He interviewed Angels general manager Perry Minasian in St. Louis on Oct. 9, but the two sides are no longer in talks, which was first reported by the New York Post.
The Angels have since allowed the Padres to interview Pujols, which was first reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Pujols has expressed a keen interest in management at the big league level for years and led a Dominican winter ball team, the Leones del Escogido, to a championship in January. Pujols had already been named manager of his native Dominican Republic in next year’s World Baseball Classic, although he would likely relinquish that role if he lands a big league job this offseason.
The Angels declined the 2026 option on manager Ron Washington’s contract after the regular season.
