A Step in The Right Direction: Mike Maddux
October 31, 2025 - Written by Jacob Firmage
Photo Credit: @MLBTradeRumors - X
The first coach brought on to Manager Kurt Suzuki’s staff represents a slight change in the tides. A big step in the right direction. The Angels known for low offers to first year coaches and not landing league wide top candidates have done just that, poaching division rival, Texas Rangers pitching coach, Mike Maddux. Maddux spent 15 years pitching in the big leagues only to be entering a longer stretch of time as a pitching coach. While not a star pitcher, he has truly shined in his time as a pitching coach. It is just another 1-year deal, but I feel comfortable assuming some options as was the case with Suzuki.
In his first tenure with the Rangers the team lowered the overall ERA by over a full run in the first couple of years. Last year, during his second tenure with the Rangers, the team led the league in ERA with a 3.41 for starters and a 3.62 for the bullpen. Mind you he is going from a rotation led by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi to one led by a potentially frustrated Kikuchi along with inconsistent Soriano. Perhaps the Angels poach a favorite of Maddux in Tyler Mahle to stabilize the middle of the rotation, but that is pure speculation at this point. In addition to two successful stints in Texas, he made stops along the way starting in Milwaukee, a 2-year stretch in Washington followed immediately by a good run in St. Louis for five seasons. Look for the Angels to have moderate to better improvements in the rotation, an area that has long plagued the team.
The most notable part of this signing is the fact Arte stepped up and paid for one of the league’s best pitching coaches. The Angels have some talented arms that proved inconsistent throughout the year and Perry Minasian along with Kurt Suzuki mentioned the young talent that needs to be better. If the Angels aren’t going to spend big in the offseason on players, it would be wise to continue picking up the league’s best coaches available to help improve from within. Let us know who you would like to see added to the staff and if Perry, starting with his guy in Kurt, followed by a resounding success in snagging Maddux, signals hope for you going into 2026.
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