Maddon returns to manage Angels
Joe Maddon agreed to a threeyear deal to become the Los Angeles Angels’ manager Wednesday, reuniting the World Serieswinning former manager of the Chicago Cubs with the organization where he spent the first three decades of his baseball career.
“We are thrilled that Joe is coming back home and bringing an exciting brand of baseball to our fans,” general manager Billy Eppler said of Maddon, 65. “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.”
The Angels will introduce Maddon at a news conference next week, but he already knows his way around Angel Stadium. In a statement, he said, “I could not be more excited to come back home and manage this great organization.”
Maddon signed with the Angels as an undrafted catcher in 1975, and he spent the next 31 seasons working at almost every level of the organization as a player, coach and manager. He had two stints as the Angels’ interim manager, and was bench coach alongside manager Mike Scioscia during their championship season in 2002, when they beat the Giants in the World Series.
Maddon left to manage Tampa Bay in 2006 for nine mostly successful seasons, followed by a bigmoney move to Chicago to make history. The threetime Manager of the Year left the Cubs by mutual consent last month after they missed the playoffs for the first time in his fiveyear tenure, which in 2016 included the Cubs’ first World Series title in since 1908.
Maddon replaces Brad Ausmus, who was fired after one season.
Brosius new Team USA manager: Joe Girardi quit as manager of the U.S. baseball team trying to qualify for the Olympics before it played a single game, saying he will pursue a major league managing job.
Girardi will be replaced by former A’s third baseman Scott Brosius, who was to be Girardi’s bench coach.
Brosius, the MVP of the 1998 World Series with the Yankees, became the senior director of baseball development for USA Baseball earlier this year. He played for Oakland in 199197.