Mike Scioscia Reportedly Expected to Step Down as Angels Manager After Season

After nearly two decades on the job, Mike Scioscia is expected to make the 2018 season his last as manager of the Los Angeles Angels.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Saturday that the 59-year-old skipper is expected to step down at season's end. Per Rosenthal, it would be Scioscia's decision and not the result of pressure from the organization.

Scioscia has managed the Angels since 2000, going 1,625-1,402 in 18-plus years. He ranks 18th all-time in managerial victories.

He is in the final year of a 10-year contract he signed in January 2009.

Scioscia has long been viewed as one of the best managers in baseball and has two American League Manager of the Year awards (2002 and 2009) to show for it. Under his command, the team has six AL West crowns, one wild-card berth and a World Series championship.

Before Scioscia, the Angels had just three postseason appearances in their 39-year history. They had never won a playoff series before he took over.

As respected as he is around the league, he has not enjoyed the same type of success he did early on in his career. Los Angeles has made the postseason just once in the last eight seasons prior to 2018 and is currently 10.5 games out of a playoff spot this year. That has drawn criticism for wasting seven MVP-caliber seasons out of the best player in baseball, Mike Trout.

Rosenthal notes that it's not clear if Scioscia would be retiring or if he would be interested in managing again.