The Los Angeles Angels will not retain manager Phil Nevin for the 2024 season, the club said Monday after finishing fourth in the American League West and missing out on a playoff spot for the ninth straight year.
The Angels, home to two-way star Shohei Ohtani, named Nevin their interim manager in June 2022 after firing Joe Maddon. The franchise then handed Nevin a one-year deal with an option last offseason.
The 52-year-old failed to turn the team's fortunes around, however, finishing this season 73-89 for an eighth straight losing record despite monumental contributions from Ohtani.
A trailblazing 2023 season saw Ohtani become the first Japanese home run champion after hitting 44 while batting .304 with 95 RBIs. Ohtani went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA on the mound as he became the first player to reach double figures in both wins and home runs in two straight years.
The Baseball Writers' Association of America on Monday said this year's MVP will be announced on Nov. 17, and Ohtani is a strong favorite to win it for the second time after taking his first in 2021 on a unanimous vote.
The 29-year-old will become the first player in history to win it twice unanimously if he gets all 30 votes from BBWAA members casting ballots this year.
His feats this season were recognized by the renowned magazine Baseball America, which named Ohtani its player of the year for the second time Monday after doing so for the first time in 2021.
Ohtani joined three other players in winning the award multiple times, including Angels teammate and four-time winner Mike Trout.
"He was, simultaneously, the most dangerous hitter in baseball and the hardest pitcher to hit in his league, a level of dominance even he hadn't achieved before," the magazine said.
Related coverage:
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani hits 42nd homer as Angels avoid series sweep
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani hits 41st home run as Angels edge Astros
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani homers in Angels loss
