The Los Angeles Angels announced on Monday, September 30th, 2019, that Manager Brad Ausmus will not be returning to manage the team in 2020.
The Angels General Manager Billy Eppler released a statement saying,
“I want to thank Brad for his hard work and dedication to this organization over the last two seasons as both a special assistant and field manager. He navigated this franchise through one of its most difficult seasons with class and professionalism.”
The rumors first started circulating last week that the Angels would be letting go Manager Brad Ausmus after the news of the Chicago Cubs not bringing back Manager Joe Maddon. Maddon, was a part of the Angels organization for over thirty years beginning in 1975, when he began his professional playing career when he signed with the Halos as a minor league free agent. He has had many roles with with the organization including as a scout, coach, minor league manager, and bench coach up until 2006, when he was offered to be the Manager for the Tampa Bay Rays and was there for 9 seasons before Managing the Chicago Cubs for the next 5 seasons.
Brad Ausmus, was in the middle of a 3-year deal to be the Manager of the Angels for an unknown amount of money. The Angels will be on the hook for the rest of his salary for the next 2 seasons. Ausmus in his first season as the skipper for the team dealt with many injuries to many key members of the team missing a significant amount of time including CF Mike Trout, DH Shohei Ohtani, LF Justin Upton, LHP Andrew Heaney, and SS Andrelton Simmons to name a few. The team also dealt with the tragedy in the death of starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs in July. With all that happened to the club in the 2019, the team did not meet expectations as it finished the season with a 72-90 record with it being the first 90 loss season for the club since 1999, before Mike Scioscia started managing the club in 2000. Scioscia, managed the Angels from 2000-2018 before stepping down as the skipper and Ausmus was hired shortly after to be the Manager in October of 2018.
The Angels as of October 1st, have not named a new manager, but many baseball insiders believe that Joe Maddon will be the next Manager of the Angels.
Featured Image: Paul Sancya, Associated Press
