As of Wednesday, there is one less managerial vacancy in MLB. Los Angeles Angels announced that they have hired Joe Maddon as their new manager. Maddon joins Angels just weeks after he has been fired by Chicago Cubs.
According to ESPN, Maddon will ink a three-year deal that is believed to be worth up to $15 million. He comes as a replacement for Brad Ausmus, who lasted one season with the Angels and posted 72-90 record.
Although there were several candidates that were considered for Angels’ managerial position, Maddon was always the favorite one due to his history with the franchise. He served as Angels’ coach between 1994 and 2005 while also being the team’s manager on an interim basis in 1996 and 1999. In these two stints, he led the team in 51 games combined and posted 27-24 record.
“We are thrilled that Joe is coming back home and bringing an exciting brand of baseball to our fans,” – said general manager Billy Eppler in a statement. “Every stop he has made throughout his managerial career, he has built a culture that is focused on winning while also allowing his players to thrive. We believe Joe will be a great asset for our club and look forward to him leading the team to another World Series championship.”
Joe Maddon left the Los Angeles Angels’ organization ahead of 2006 MLB season, when he took the managerial position with Tampa Bay Rays. Following 10 years with the Rays, during which he had six winning seasons and one World Series appearance, Maddon left Tampa Bay to become a manager of Chicago Cubs.
With Cubs, Maddon managed to make four consecutive postseason appearances and win a World Series in 2016. Despite not having a season below .516 in his five years with the franchise, Cubs decided to fire him following the end of 2019 MLB regular season.
“I could not be more excited to come back home and manage this great organization,” – said Maddon after returning to Angels. “I’d like to thank Arte Moreno, Billy Eppler, and John Carpino for giving me the opportunity to add another chapter to my Angels career. I was lucky enough to be a part of the first Angels team to win a World Series title, and I look forward to the opportunity to bring Angel fans their second championship.”
