ANAHEIM — After spending most of his post-playing career on a track to be a general manager, Ray Montgomery has now had half a season to see what it’s like to be a major league manager.
What happens next won’t be entirely up to him – the Angels are expected to make decisions on the manager and coaching staff shortly after the end of the season – but for his part, he’s still interested in both directions.
“Everything in the game appeals to me,” Montgomery said on Thursday. “I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve been able to do some of these things. I think (the GM) job is an incredibly difficult job, as are all of them in this game.
“I could tell you, from doing this job, there is no substitute to actually sitting in the chair. People talk about it all the time. When you’re sitting in the chair, it’s different than when you’re in the No. 2 hole as a bench coach or even as an assistant GM.”
Montgomery, 56, took over for Ron Washington when he went on a medical leave on June 20. The Angels were 36-38 under Washington, and they have gone 35-49 under Montgomery. All of the games this season go on Washington’s official record, because he is still officially the manager, while Montgomery is the interim manager.
Washington, 73, has a contract option for next season, and he’s made it clear that it’s his desire to return to the dugout. Washington, however, underwent quadruple bypass surgery this summer, so the Angels’ decision will not only be whether they want him to be the manager, but whether they believe he would be healthy enough to do that job.
If the Angels decide not to bring back Washington, Montgomery would certainly be a candidate. Even though the Angels haven’t played well lately – in part because of a flood of injuries – Montgomery would get some consideration because he would offer continuity. He’s been in the organization for five years, including four as the bench coach.
Prior to that, he spent 19 years working as a scout and then in the front offices of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers and Angels.
“They’ve treated me well over the five years that I’ve been here,” Montgomery said. “I feel terribly fortunate to have been able to sort of keep this train on the tracks with what Wash had to go through.”
ANDERSON UPDATE
Left-hander Tyler Anderson, who will finish the season on the injured list because of an oblique problem, said he’s feeling good now. He is planning to throw a bullpen session on Friday, just to know he can go into free agency healthy.
Anderson, 35, said he’s planning to come back for his 11th major league season next year.
Over the three years of his $39 million deal with the Angels, Anderson went 18-29 with a 4.53 ERA. He made the All-Star team in 2024, when he posted a 3.81 ERA.
Anderson’s career ERA before he signed with the Angels was 4.16.
“Personally, and as a team, I feel like we’ve had ups and downs,” Anderson said. “I hate not to be pitching the last month, but for the most part I took the ball, which is something I take pride in. The last few years, just missed a couple starts. I wish I could have done more.”
NOTES
Outfielder Taylor Ward was honored with the Angels’ Good Guy Award from the Anaheim chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Assn. The award recognizes a player for cooperation with the media. …
The Angels recognized athletic trainer Rick Smith for 50 years with the organization on Thursday. The players and coaches all wore T-shirts honoring Smith. “Fifty years of doing anything is impressive,” Montgomery said. “The amount of people he’s come in contact with and people he’s touched throughout those years, incredible. And I’m glad we’re getting an opportunity to do it. That’s some kind of achievement.”
UP NEXT
Astros (TBD) at Angels (RHP Kyle Hendricks, 8-10, 4.79 ERA), Thursday, 6:38 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM