Texas Rangers’ Mike Maddux Joins Angels as Pitching Coach

ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike Maddux will not return as the Texas Rangers‘ pitching coach for the 2026 season. The 64-year-old coach has accepted a position with the Los Angeles Angels under new manager Kurt Suzuki, according to multiple sources. This comes after Maddux helped lead the Rangers to their first-ever World Series title in 2023 and a major league-best ERA of 3.47 in 2025.

The Rangers confirmed that an agreement could not be reached to keep him. “The Texas Rangers are forever grateful to Mike for his contributions here,” said Chris Young, the club’s president of baseball operations. “Mike has played a major role for some of the best teams in Rangers history. We wish him the best.”

Negotiations began last week after the Angels received permission from the Rangers to speak with Maddux. While the Rangers made a renewed offer to retain him, Maddux opted to join their division rivals. It is expected that Maddux’s deal with the Angels will be for one year, although an official announcement has not been made.

Maddux’s departure marks the end of his second stint with the Rangers, which began in 2009. He coached the team through its first two World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011 and returned in 2023, helping Arizona recover from injuries to key pitchers like Max Scherzer and Jon Gray.

The Rangers, fresh off back-to-back successful seasons, will now need to find a replacement for Maddux. Assistant pitching coach Jordan Tiegs and analyst Dave Bush are candidates who may be considered. The team has yet to announce its coaching staff for the coming season.

In joining the Angels, Maddux faces a significant challenge. The team has struggled with pitching depth and performance over the past years, finishing 2025 with a 4.89 team ERA. Despite employing established pitchers like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, the Angels will require a solid strategy to improve their staff’s performance.