Angels suspend Mickey Callaway

After a report in The Athletic emerged Monday evening indicating that Angels pitching coach aggressively pursued at least five women in sports media both in person and by sending them inappropriate photos and text messages, the team responded Tuesday by announcing that it has suspended Callaway:

Callaway, a former Angels pitcher, joined the Angels’ staff prior to the 2020 season, serving under manager Joe Maddon, who was the team’s bench coach back when he was a player. Callaway previously served as the manager of the New York Mets from 2018-19. Notably, he was hired by Sandy Alderson, who also oversaw the search that led to the Mets hiring GM Jared Porter earlier this winter. Porter was fired last month after an ESPN report revealed that he relentlessly harassed a foreign reporter and sent her inappropriate photos over the course of several months.

While it seems likely that Callaway will ultimately be dismissed by the Angels, ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and The Athletic’s Molly Knight have both reported that per California labor law, the Angels must conduct a formal investigation into the incidents since Callaway has denied all wrongdoing (despite screenshots and photos being included in Monday night’s report). That’s why he’s been suspended for now, rather than being fired immediately:

The Angels don’t have an assistant pitching coach, so it’s unclear who they will turn to if Callaway is dismissed. Former big-leaguer Matt Wise, who serves as the club’s bullpen coach and also pitched for the team in the early 2000s, would seem to be the most logical internal candidate.