Astros may stand between Angels and their long awaited Albert Pujols reunion

It's been long rumored that the Los Angeles Angels would be looking for a new manager this offseason, and now those rumors have been confirmed with the club announcing that it will not pick up the option on Kurt Suzuki's contract. Suzuki may be offered another role within the organization, but the Angels are officially on the prowl for someone new to sit at the manager's desk.

With a very short period of time to make a decision, and continuity being of paramount importance, there will be renewed speculation that Albert Pujols will be the top target. Pujols and John Mozeliak have a longstanding relationship from their time with the St. Louis Cardinals, and it can't be understated that having your manager and general manager on the same page for personnel positions is incredibly important.

Don't go off dreaming about Pujols returning to Anaheim just yet, though. The Houston Astros apparently have the three-time MVP on their shortlist as well. That could help save the Halos from a mistake.

If a bidding war ensues between the Angels and Astros for Albert Pujols, Los Angeles would be better off letting him go

Remember that the last time the Angels interviewed Albert Pujols for their managerial vacancy, he had some seriously wild contract demands. In addition to a $6 million salary that would have made him one of the highest-paid managers in the game, he also wanted a say in player acquisition, as well as control over organizational hitting and pitching philosophies.

That's a lot of control to hand over to any manager, let alone a first-time manager who has no previous MLB coaching experience.

Most of the buzz surrounding Pujols, aside from his reputation as a player, comes from his work in LIDOM (the Dominican Winter League) at the helm of the Leones Del Escogido. His clout has been further bolstered by managing Team Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

At first glance, the resume is impressive. Pujols not only won the LIDOM championship in his first season as manager but also took home the Caribbean Series title.

However, there are a few things to consider. While there are big leaguers who play in LIDOM, any stars that appear only make cameos. The majority are young players heading to the Dominican to get extra reps to fuel improvements, as well as journeymen trying to hang on.

While Pujols won the title there, his team backed into the playoffs with a 24-25 record to claim the fourth and final playoff spot. They got hot at the right time, but it's a small sample as it is and doesn't tell us much about his ability to manage an MLB club given the talent discrepancy.

On top of that, there's not much management required when it comes to handling the star-studded Dominican National Team. The lineup writes itself, and every pitcher on the roster is a stud. However, DR once again failed to live up to expectations on the global stage with yet another early exit from the tournament.

Being a Hall of Fame-caliber player is not a prerequisite for being a good manager. In fact, most of the best in the game were bit players during their playing careers. Look no further than Michael Jordan's follies as an executive in the NBA for proof that being able to play at a high level doesn't mean that one can coach or evaluate talent at anywhere near the same proficiency.

In fact, some might argue that having the game come easily to you is a hindrance when it comes to teaching, which will be of extra importance given the youth on the Angels' roster.

Unfortunately, the Astros might not be Los Angeles's savior from making a grave mistake. Houston owner Jim Crane loves a big splash, but he's frugal. Moreover, he's not going to give anyone the final say over personnel decisions, as he blocked his own now-former GM Dana Brown from trading righty reliever Bryan Abreu for Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach at this year's trade deadline.

If that's the case, it will be up to the Angels to show restraint. A young ball club like the Halos needs a veteran hand to guide them, especially one with a wealth of experience in player development. That's not Pujols. Maybe one day it will be, but for now, Los Angeles shouldn't be the team to give him his first managerial break.

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