When Albert Pujols returned to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022, he had his sights set on reaching the 700 home run milestone. He needed 21 homers to get there—a number he hadn’t hit since 2019—but he surpassed expectations by hitting 24, finishing his career with 703 home runs. That accomplishment cemented his place in history as just the fourth player ever to reach 700. But Pujols isn’t done chasing milestones. In a conversation with Bob Nightengale, he revealed that his next goal is to become a major league manager.
“I’ve always taken this game seriously,” Pujols said. “And now, I’m serious about managing. Baseball has given me so much, and now I want to give back. I’m ready.”
Since retiring as a player, Pujols has stayed involved in the game, working as a TV analyst and serving in the Commissioner’s office. But his passion for coaching was ignited when he led a Dominican Winter League team to a championship in 2024. Though legendary sluggers like Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth all hit 700 home runs, none ever managed in the major leagues.
Some of baseball’s greatest players, such as Walter Johnson, Ted Williams, and Pete Rose, made the transition to managing, though none of them posted the kind of slugging numbers Pujols did during their careers. Currently, Frank Robinson holds the record for most career home runs by a manager with 586. If Pujols gets his chance, he could raise that bar to 703.
Albert Pujols could take over either of his former teams
As the 2025 season gets underway, both of Albert Pujols’ former teams find themselves in periods of transition. The St. Louis Cardinals have missed the playoffs in back-to-back years and are entering a rebuilding phase. Aside from being unable to move Nolan Arenado in a trade, the roster looks to be young, hungry, and ready for a fresh start. On the other hand, the Angels are still searching for answers, trying to figure out how to build a competitive team around Mike Trout now that Shohei Ohtani is no longer in the picture.
While Pujols isn’t quite ready to take on a managerial role yet, and both clubs currently have managers in place, the low expectations surrounding both teams could lead to vacancies before long. That opens the door for Pujols to potentially step in as the face of a new era—helping to bring excitement (and fans) back to the ballpark during a rebuild.
Sure, Pujols also spent time with the Dodgers late in his playing career, becoming something of an Immaculate Grid cheat code, but with Dave Roberts firmly established and a dynasty in the making, that job isn’t opening up anytime soon.
Of course, Pujols doesn’t necessarily need to return to one of his former teams to get his shot. Still, the idea of seeing him back in Cardinals red, this time as the manager, is a fun one to imagine.
