ANAHEIM (CNS) - The Los Angeles Angels have hired 2016 World Series winner Joe Maddon as their next manager, the team announced today.
“OFFICIAL: The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to terms with manager Joe Maddon,” the Angels tweeted Wednesday morning.
Maddon, 65, spent 31 years with the Angels organization before leaving to become the Tampa Bay Rays manager in 2006. He served two stints as interim manager in 1996 and '99, and he was the bench coach for the Angels' 2002 World Series-winning team managed by Mike Scioscia.
In nine seasons as the manager of the expansion Rays, Maddon took Tampa Bay to the playoffs four times, including the club's only World Series appearance in 2008.
His stature rose even higher in 2016, when he led the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908. He parted ways with the Cubs after this season.
Maddon's deal with the Angels was reported to be for three years, but no details were immediately released.
“We are thrilled that Joe is coming back home and brining and exciting brand of baseball to our fans,” Angels General Manager Billy Eppler said. “Every stop he has made throughout his managerial career 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.”
The Angels fired former manager Brad Ausmus at the end of September after his first season leading the team, which finished the season with a 72-90 record.
Maddon takes over a team facing growing turmoil stemming from the July overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs in a Texas hotel room. The team's director of communications, Eric Kay, told federal investigators he regularly provided Skaggs with oxycodone and abused it with him for years. He claimed other team officials were aware of Skaggs' drug use, but the team has denied the allegation.
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