SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ron Washington is getting another chance.
The Angels on Wednesday hired Washington as their manager, providing another opportunity for the man who last led the Texas Rangers in 2014. Washington had been the Atlanta Braves third base coach for the past six seasons.
Washington, 71, becomes the 20th manager in Angels history after receiving a two-year contract. He replaces Phil Nevin, whose option was declined last month.
Washington will be introduced at a press conference next week. General Manager Perry Minasian is not expected to address the hire until then.
Washington managed the Rangers from 2007-14, which overlapped with Minasian’s final years working in the Rangers baseball operations department.
Minasian said a day earlier that he was looking for a manager who could “command a room,” and draw respect in a way that Bruce Bochy did when helping the Rangers to the World Series title this year.
“There are certain people that have earned different things,” Minasian said at the GM Meetings on Tuesday. “Whether it be through their coaching style, whether it be through their playing style, but when they walk in the room, you know they’re there. When they speak, people listen. That’s something that we’re trying to identify.”
Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Washington definitely fits that bill.
“Off the charts ability to lead,” Anthopoulos said. “That guy walks in a room, it’s over. He’s just got it. He’s so special. I’ve been in baseball since 2000 and I’ve never been around someone like this before.”
Anthopoulos added that the “Angels got a lot better today.”
San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi worked with Washington with the Oakland A’s in 2005-06, and he also endorsed the Angels new manager.
“I love Wash,” Zaidi said. “As someone who had a ton of experience in baseball, he kind of always took time to explain his perspective to me and things that I didn’t really have a grasp on.”
Zaidi said Washington’s relationship with “the guy on the bottom of the totem pole in the front office, I think that speaks a lot about his character.”
Washington reportedly already has plans for his staff, including Torii Hunter as first base coach, Eric Young Sr as third base coach, Chili Davis as hitting coach, Clint Hurdle as bench coach and Ryan Goins as infield coach.
The Rangers were 664-611 in Washington’s years, including World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. The Rangers lost both times.
Washington resigned in September 2014, saying in a statement that he wanted to devote his attention to addressing an “off-the-field personal matter.” Washington subsequently said he had been unfaithful to his wife of 42 years.
Washington also failed a test for cocaine while he was managing the Rangers in 2009, subjecting him to more stringent testing thereafter.
News of his failed test broke during spring training in 2010, and Washington admitted making what he said was an isolated mistake.
“Any attempt to try to explain it is going to sound like excuses,” Washington said in 2010. “There is no right way to explain something wrong, and I did wrong. Was it tension? Maybe. Anxiety?”
After leaving the Rangers, Washington returned to the A’s, who had employed him as a coach prior to his time managing the Rangers. Washington was the A’s third base coach, and he was widely credited for helping Marcus Semien make dramatic defensive improvement.
The Atlanta Braves hired Washington as their third base coach in 2017, around the same time Minasian was hired as assistant general manager.
Before beginning his coaching career, Washington spent parts of 10 years as a major league infielder, mostly with the Minnesota Twins. He last played in 1989 with the Houston Astros.
