Overview

• Albert Pujols met Angels GM Perry Minasian in St. Louis and the sides held preliminary discussions, with no formal offer or agreement reported.
• Multiple outlets report Pujols is the frontrunner and that it is largely his decision whether to take the job, with Torii Hunter positioned as a fallback option.
• Pujols remains three years into a 10-year, $10 million personal-services contract with the Angels that sources say must be reconciled in any managerial deal.
• He is slated to manage the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, a commitment he would likely relinquish if hired.
• The vacancy follows the Angels declining Ron Washington’s option and not retaining interim Ray Montgomery after a 72-90 season, and Pujols brings recent winter-league and Caribbean Series titles despite no MLB managing experience.