Angels won't bring back Ron Washington or interim Ray Montgomery

The Los Angeles Angels will not pick up Ron Washington’s contract option for 2026 and will not retain interim manager Ray Montgomery, the club announced Tuesday, ending Washington’s two seasons as the team’s manager following a midseason medical leave. Washington, 73, stepped away in late June to undergo quadruple bypass heart surgery and returned to the team near the end of the season but will not return to the dugout in 2026.

Washington said in an interview that the decision was based on team performance rather than his health. "When you’re a competitor, and you’re in charge, none of that stuff comes into play," he said, adding he had tried to put the team on the right track. He also said he did not have a chance to speak with owner Arte Moreno before the decision and that he accepted the club’s choice.

The Angels went 72–90 this season and finished last in the American League West for a second consecutive year, following a 63–99 campaign in 2024. The club’s extended stretch of losing seasons and absence from the postseason, which dates to 2014, has been a persistent concern for ownership and fans. When Washington left for health reasons on June 30 the team was 40–40 and...